The Houston Rockets acquired Victor Oladipo in the four-team deal that saw James Harden land with the Brooklyn Nets. Initially many believed that he, along with John Wall and Christian Wood, would become the core of the franchise’s future.
Now that the dust has settled and some time has passed, it is increasingly looking like that won’t be the case. In fact, a trade appears imminent.
According to A. Sherrod Blakely of Bleacher Report, one team to keep an eye on when it comes to Oladipo is the New York Knicks.
“Oladipo will be a name to keep an eye on,” he wrote. “The former All-Star has had a slew of injuries in recent years but is among the more talented two-way players when healthy.
“League sources say the Knicks are among the teams interested in Oladipo and will be closely monitoring the impending free agent’s play leading up to the deadline and beyond if he’s not moved by then.”
The Bucks owner’s daughter decided to bring 2021 in with a bang by stripping all her clothes off. https://t.co/UgzhEEna4o
— Game 7 (@game7__) January 7, 2021
New York is not the only team that has its sights on Oladipo, though.
The Golden State Warriors are also very much in the mix, as noted by Dan Favale of Bleacher Report.
In this proposed deal, Kelly Oubre Jr., Jordan Poole, Brad Wanamaker, and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 2021 first-round pick (which is top-three protected and then unprotected in 2022) would go to Houston, in return for Oladipo and the Portland Trail Blazers’ 2021 first-round pick (which is lottery-protected through 2027 and then turns into a 2027 second rounder).
Karl-Anthony Towns’ reaction to Jordyn Woods’ Buss It video speaks for itself.
— Game 7 (@game7__) January 26, 2021
Finally, don’t sleep on the Miami Heat. Erik Spoelstra and Co. have been linked to Oladipo dating back to this past offseason. Plus, as was recently reported by Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson, “Pat Riley and Oladipo have mutual respect.” Given how bad last year’s Eastern Conference champs have looked thus far this season, clearly they need some sort of shot in the arm.
When Oladipo first arrived in Houston, he was very blunt about the reality of how long he planned to be there. So none of this should come as a shock.
Obviously the NBA Trade Deadline could come and go, Oladipo could still be with the Rockets, and it wouldn’t be the craziest thing in the world. That said – based on the way things are looking, there is a better than not chance that he finishes the 2021 season in a different uniform.
Related: Doc Rivers Gives Very Blunt Assessment Of LaMelo Ball
A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
