The New York Knicks could make a run after another big-name free agent this offseason. As the NBA plans to resume its season by the end of July, Victor Oladipo faces an uncertain future. That would be because the Indiana Pacers guard missed an entire calendar year due to severe injury. That injury would include a torn quad tendon in his right leg.
Although he did return prior to the NBA shutting down its season back in March, he played in 13 uneven games. He averaged just 13.8 points per game on 39.1 percent shooting from the field. Those averages are a far cry from his first All-Star campaign in which he averaged 23.1 points per game during the 2017-18 season.
Oladipo will enter free agency in 2021 at the age of 29. And while he likely wants a big deal during the prime of his career, some executives just don't see it happening. Why? Outside of injuries, he hasn't proven himself enough at an elite level to warrant such a contract.
Via Tim Bontemps of ESPN:
“The tricky thing for me with Oladipo is this guy has had a relatively long career and he had one year at an All-NBA level and that's really the only All-Star-level [year he's had],” an Eastern Conference executive said. “Last year, he wasn't as good before he got hurt. Previous [to Indiana], he wasn't playing unbelievably, either.”
Even with that being said, one executive sees the Knicks pursuing Oladipo once he's available.
“I think there's a lot riding on him coming back,” a Western Conference coach said. “There's major concerns with these injuries. If Vic comes back and plays well — and he works his ass off, so he could — I think he's gonna give a reminder to everyone how good he can be.
“If he proves he looks the part, you're gonna see teams like the Knicks, and other teams trying to build something, try to go get him.”
New York is desperately looking for that star to lead the franchise. After failing in their pursuit of superstars such as Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, New York ended up giving three years and $63 million to Julius Randle.
If the Knicks want to advance as a franchise and win their first playoff series since the 2012-13 season, Oladipo may be the guy they end up targeting to lead the way.
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