Victor Oladipo hasn’t exactly been his All-Star self the last few times he’s played, but he has shown flashes of what made him a dynamic force. When healthy, Victor Oladipo would start for most teams in the league: he is an athletic guard who can create offense for himself. If he is healthy, then Oladipo deserves to get paid like an All-Star.
Perhaps the Indiana Pacers do not feel the same way. Bob Kravitz of The Athletic reported on what an NBA executive thinks on the Pacers’ star situation. It seems like a long term commitment in Indiana is out of the question for Oladipo.
The Pacers need him to re-emerge because they may need him to fetch top value if/when they deal him before the March 25 trade deadline. As one NBA executive told me recently, “He’s gone. They’ll move him.”
It makes sense as to why people think that Oladipo will get moved. He has an expiring contract, and it is always prudent to either extend or trade before the player hits free agency. Oladipo is also enough of a game-changer where he can fetch a nice return in a trade. As a former All-Star, Oladipo surely has value to contending teams who want that one extra piece.
Bob Kravitz also reported on Victor Oladipo’s future commitment to Indiana: the star gave a vague answer when asked about his future.
Later in the interview, another reporter lobbed a question about his long-term commitment to Indiana. Oladipo stuck to the script he’s been reading all preseason.
“It’s out of my control,” he said, again. “I’m focused on the here and now. The business side really doesn’t matter now. I’m just focused on my team, my teammates, the coaching staff and being healthy.”
The answer definitely doesn’t explain anything. It should be noted though that Oladipo does have ties to the state of Indiana, having went to college there. Oladipo could end up remaining with the Pacers, if they risk retaining him past the trade deadline. But he could just as easily leave.
It seems as though Victor Oladipo may be on a new team before the end of the trade deadline. If Oladipo can regain his form, he would be a valuable piece to a team needing a secondary guard. The only thing that is certain is that Oladipo will try his best on the court regardless of what his future holds, as that is the best way to build his value.
