It’s just a matter of time before a Victor Oladipo trade from the Houston Rockets comes to fruition. Recently acquired in the James Harden blockbuster, Oladipo has already turned down an extension offer from Houston. He’s also slated to become a free agent during the summer.
Simply put, the rebuilding Rockets can’t afford to lose Oladipo for nothing. NBA rumors also suggest that general manager Rafael Stone is about to hold a fire sale ahead of the NBA trade deadline. If so, here’s a look at five potential Victor Oladipo trade scenarios.
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Victor Oladipo trade to the Boston Celtics
- Rockets get: Aaron Nesmith, Carsen Edwards, Marcus Smart
- Celtics get: Victor Oladipo
It’s no secret that Celtics general manager Danny Ainge is looking to pull off a blockbuster before the March 25 NBA trade deadline. We already know that Boston is targeting a wing or someone who can play multiple frontcourt positions. With that said, Oladipo would be a tremendous fit. He’d team up with Kemba Walker in the backcourt, moving Jaylen Brown to the three and Jayson Tatum to power forward. That small-ball lineup could be lethal.
Houston’s inclusion in this hypothetical Victor Oladipo trade would be two-fold. It acquires two young former first-round picks in Nesmith and Edwards to build around moving forward. The Rockets could then likely swap Smart to a contending team for a future first-round pick. That would be a nice haul.
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Victor Oladipo trade to the Miami Heat
- Rockets get: Andre Iguodala, Kendrick Nunn, Precious Achiuwa, second-round pick
- Heat get: Victor Oladipo
Oladipo could very well opt to sign with the Miami Heat this coming season. The two have been linked to one another on a near never-ending loop over the past year or so. South Beach seems to be a prime destination for the former All-Star. On the court, it would also make sense. He’d team up with Tyler Herro to form a tremendous scoring duo in the backcourt with Jimmy Butler at the three.
Without much to offer up as it relates to draft picks, Miami gives Houston an option to go with either sharpshooting guard Duncan Robinson or rookie first-round pick Precious Achiuwa. Rafael Stone opts for a younger Achiuwa. The first-round pick has been darn good as a rookie, manning the power forward position. Meanwhile, Nunn gives Houston a good young shooter on the cheap. As for Iguodala, Houston would either buy him out or look for a trade partner.
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Victor Oladipo trade to the Denver Nuggets
- Rockets get: R.J. Hampton, Gary Harris, first-round pick
- Nuggets get: Victor Oladipo
It’s clear that Houston wants to get young and add to its draft capital as the team heads for a long-term rebuild. Acquiring a combination of both in a potential Victor Oladipo trade would help in that regard. Here, Denver offers up a still-young 26-year-old Harris who is more than capable of averaging 15-plus per game. Heck, the Rockets could even turn around and trade him. A first-round pick in 2020, Hampton could be a massive part of the Rockets’ rebuild. Meanwhile, Denver’s first-round pick in 2021 would be icing on the cake.
In the midst of a mediocre 21-15 start to the season, NBA rumors have suggested that the Nuggets could make a move here soon. Upgrading from Harris and Will Barton at the two would be huge. Oladipo could slide in as an off-ball guard next to Jamal Murray while providing a needed second scorer behind MVP candidate Nikola Jokic.
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Victor Oladipo trade to the New York Knicks
- Rockets get: Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox, first-round pick
- Knicks get: Victor Oladipo
Recent NBA rumors suggest that the Knicks’ brass views Oladipo as an integral part of the team’s long-term plans. In fact, New York could simply target the former All-Star with cap room in free agency this coming summer. However, the team is in the midst of a surprising 2020-21 season and might want that shot in the arm right now. After all, new president Leon Rose already acquired Derrick Rose in a trade earlier in the year.
As for a package Houston could net for Oladipo, acquiring Mitchell Robinson would be absolutely huge. The center would team up with star power forward Christian Wood to form a talented tandem in the frontcourt. A former lotter pick, taking a chance that a change of scenery helps Knox wouldn’t hurt, either. Meanwhile, Houston nabs the 2021 first-round pick New York acquired from the Dallas Mavericks in the Kristaps Porzingis trade.
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Victor Oladipo trade to the Golden State Warriors
- Rockets get: Eric Paschall, Kelly Oubre, Jordan Poole, first-round pick
- Warriors get: Victor Oladipo
Golden State is the latest team to be linked to Oladipo. It makes sense with general manager Bob Myers expected to be active and the Warriors’ brass still willing to spend money. It also must be noted that the Warriors won’t be able to target Oladipo in free agency. Over the short term, he’d slide in as the two next two Stephen Curry. Moving forward, Klay Thompson would likely slide over to the three once he returns from injury next season.
The Warriors are not willing to offer up either rookie No. 2 pick James Wiseman or the valuable Minnesota Timberwolves’ first-round pick. Rather, they’d entice the Rockets with an improved sophomore two-guard in former first-round pick Jordan Poole. Houston also nets a potential starting forward in Paschall while taking a chance on a still-young 25-year-old Oubre who comes out of the All-Star Break averaging 20.6 points and 6.8 rebounds on 43% shooting from distance in his past 14 games.
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