NBA rumors continue to suggest that the Houston Rockets will pull off a Victor Oladipo trade ahead of the March 25 deadline. For a rebuilding Rockets squad that has lost 13 consecutive games, it makes perfect sense.
Oladipo just recently turned down a contract extension offer from Houston and will hit free agency once the 2020-21 season comes to a conclusion.
There’s no telling whether the All-Star believes the Rockets are a long-term fit for him. In turn, Houston can’t afford to lose Oladipo for nothing after acquiring him as the centerpiece in the James Harden blockbuster trade. We now have more information on this, and it’s seemingly good news for interested teams.
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Victor Oladipo trade could come cheap
Just recently, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted that Oladipo is “absolutely available” and could “go cheap.” This is a rather new development. The Rockets acquired multiple first-round picks and pick swaps in the above-mentioned Harden trade.
However, Oladipo is now their biggest chip heading into the March 25 NBA trade deadline. Moving him on the cheap would not be considered a good thing for general manager Rafael Stone and Co.
Read More: 4 potential Houston Rockets trade scenarios ahead of NBA trade deadline
A two-time All-Star, NBA rumors will continue to link Oladipo to interested teams. Some of them view him as a long-term option. Others might want to see what the guard could provide over the next couple months and then make a decision. That complicates the trade market for Victor Oladipo.
What we do know is that his status as the most-valuable commodity on the trade block might be a thing of the past. Oladipo, 28, is averaging 19.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists on a mere 39% shooting from the field this season. His efficiency just has not been there since the former No. 2 pick suffered a devastating leg injury during the 2019-20 campaign.
Read More: 5 ideal Victor Oladipo trade scenarios
NBA rumors: Who is interested in a Victor Oladipo trade?
By now, it’s well known that the Miami Heat have been linked to Oladipo on a near never-ending loop. There’s mutual interest between the two sides. Now that the guard might come cheap, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Heat front office head Pat Riley became more proactive on this front.
More recently, reports surfaced that the Golden State Warriors are interested in Oladipo. Struggling through a tough recent stretch, the playoff contenders are expected to be aggressive heading into the NBA trade deadline.
With that said, they are not willing to part with either rookie No. 2 pick James Wiseman or the highly-valuable Minnesota Timberwolves future first-round pick in a trade for anything less than a generational talent. Oladipo certainly isn’t that. This recent report could increase the odds Golden State pulls off a trade for the two-guard.
Obviously, the New York Knicks are going to be in on pretty much every big-name player. Suggestions out of the Big Apple are that the Knicks’ brass is high on Oladipo as a potential franchise cornerstone moving forward.
These are just three teams that make the most sense as it relates to an Oladipo blockbuster. Other contenders such as the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics will also be in on him over the next two weeks.
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