[brid autoplay=”true” video=”816273″ player=”23231″ title=”Top%20NBA%20free%20agents%20of%202021″ duration=”53″ description=”Unlike last offseason, we’re going to see a ton of top end NBA free agents in 2021. Players like future Hall of Famers Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul will likely opt out of their contracts and hit the open market.Meanwhile, there’s a large amount of talented youngsters set to become restricted free agents. That list includes Atlanta Hawks big man John Collins and Lonzo Ball of the New Orleans Pelicans.” uploaddate=”2021-06-29″ thumbnailurl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/thumb/816273_t_1624987441.png” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/sd/816273.mp4″]
Two-time All-Star guard Victor Oladipo seems to be a bit of an afterthought heading into NBA free agency. The 29-year-old is recovering from a quadriceps injury that limited him to four games with the Miami Heat after a midseason trade from the Houston Rockets.
With that said, Oladipo has a track record of success. It should lead to some strong interest in his services, even if it is on a short-term deal. The former No. 2 pick is averaging 20.7 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists since the start of the 2017-18 season. Below, we look at four ideal free agent destinations for Victor Oladipo this summer.
Victor Oldipo bets on himself with the Golden State Warriors
There’s a scenario in play here that suggests the 29-year-old Oladipo will take a prove-it, one-year deal with a playoff-caliber team. The idea would be for the two-time All-Star to up his value heading into free agency next summer. While there’s a number of higher-profile players set to hit the open market in 2022, this could make the most sense.
In Golden State, Oladipo could potentially back up at all three perimeter positions once he returns from his quadriceps injury, likely some time around November. This would give the injury-plagued veteran the usage he would be looking to acquire on a contending team. Of course, this is all dependent on what Golden State does on the trade block. The team is said to be active in looking for another star player.
Los Angeles Clippers add Victor Oladipo
Los Angeles’ issues at point guard this past season can’t be ignored. It got so bad that the like of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George had to run point later during the regular year and in the playoffs. Much like Golden State, the Clippers are also not in a position to sign a player with anything more than their $5.89 million taxpayer mid-level exception.
However, this could make a ton of sense for Oladipo. Leonard is slated to be out throughout at least the start of the 2022 calendar year with a partially torn ACL. Signing with the Clippers on the cheap would give him the ability to show he can be a true cornerstone piece next to Paul George until Leonard returns from injury.
Victor Oladipo returns to the Miami Heat on team-friendly deal
This seems to be the likeliest scenario. Oladipo played in all of four games with the Heat after coming off in a trade from the Houston Rockets. The two had been connected to one another for a long time before that trade came to fruition.
With Miami coming off a disappointing first-round exit in the playoffs, front office head Pat Riley is expected to be active on all fronts this summer. There’s a scenario in play that suggest Victor Oladipo and Kyle Lowry could team up in the backcourt in South Beach. That would be a tremendous duo with the likes of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. I certainly wouldn’t put this past the Heat.
Victor Oladipo teams up with Luka Doncic in Dallas
By now, it’s well known that Dallas is looking to find a better supporting cast behind Luka Doncic under new head coach Jason Kidd and general manager Nico Harrison. On the surface, Oladipo might not make sense in the backcourt with Luka. That’s just on the surface as he can play off-ball with Doncic continuing his ball-dominant ways.
From a logistical perspective, this might actually make the most sense for Victor Oladipo. Dallas has north of $20 million to spend in free agency. It could potentially offer him more than any other playoff-caliber team outside of the New York Knicks. If it were to come on a multi-year deal, this would enable the former top-two pick to avoid what promises to be a strong free-agent class in 2022.