The Houston Rockets have gone downhill quickly since Christian Wood got injured and have lost 10 straight. Victor Oladipo was acquired in the James Harden blockbuster trade in January and, as it turns out, he turned down an extension from Houston.
However, despite turning down the extension, the Rockets have yet to make him available via trade despite the trade deadline just a few weeks away and Stephen Silas' team trending downwards, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
“It is typical that teams become more focused in pursuing trades closer to the deadline, which is still a little less than four weeks away. Houston has yet to engage with teams on trade talks involving Oladipo, sources said,” per Wojnarowski.
Around this time is when teams usually start buying or shopping, and the fact the Rockets have called apart in the month of February and have yet to make him available is rather surprising.
Oladipo is averaging 19.4 points with 5.2 boards and 4.6 assists in 22 games between the Indiana Pacers and Rockets and is set to hit the open market in the summer if the Rockets can't agree on an extension.
Maybe the Rockets are being optimistic and hope they can turn it around and make a run for the Western Conference playoffs, although it seems unlikely with Wood supposed to be out for a couple more weeks and the release of DeMarcus Cousins earlier in the month.
Either way, the fact that Oladipo turned down a rather good-sized extension might mean that he wants to test the market in the summer with his eyes set on the Miami Heat or another team that could offer him huge money.
It will be an interesting couple of weeks in Houston, and something that's become quite normal this season after the situation with Russell Westbrook and Harden.
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