It has recently been revealed what steps the Indiana Pacers intend to make in order to replace Victor Oladipo on their roster.
As it turns out, the Pacers appear to be standing pat, and will prioritize the long term, as opposed to making a hasty decision that might benefit them in the short term.
The #Pacers would have to waive a player to sign someone else to replace Oladipo. Not doing that, I’m told. Their priority remains getting out of this in one piece. Not advancing in the playoffs. Other teams feel the same way. This isn’t a typical postseason
— J. Michael (@ThisIsJMichael) July 3, 2020
Oladipo earlier announced his decision not to rejoin the team for the Florida bubble, instead opting to focus on his preparations for next season.
The 6-foot-4 combo guard came off a lengthy injury spell, and was slowly regaining his form prior to the abrupt suspension of the season. Oladipo was only able to play in 13 games for Indiana prior to the hiatus, averaging 13.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 25.9 minutes per contest. Unsurprisingly, Oladipo showed signs of rust, and he was a far cry from his old, All-Star self.
The Pacers managed a respectable record even without the Oladipo of old, with the team able to secure the fifth spot in the East with a 39-26 record. This is perhaps where they're coming from in terms of not wanting to waive a player on their current roster just to be able to open up a spot for a potential replacement.
Indiana have been good this season, but they are far from a title contender. The front office certainly understands this, and this is another reason for them not to focus too much on the short term, and instead, look at how their decisions now will affect their long game.
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