The New York Knicks are among the NBA teams potentially interested in trading for Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo before this season’s March 25 trade deadline, per Bleacher Report’s A. Sherrod Blakely.
While Oladipo is playing well for the Rockets — who entered Wednesday with an NBA-best winning streak of six straight games — his contract expires after the 2020-21 season. So, if Houston GM Rafael Stone doesn’t feel that Oladipo is a long-term financial fit, he could explore trades to avoid the risk of losing a two-time All-Star for no compensation.
In his latest column, Blakely writes:
That’s why Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo will be a name to keep an eye on. 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.
🚨PERSONAL NEWS🚨Today's my first day w/@BR_NBA where my focus will be on topics impacting NBA front offices. Today I look at the NYK and whether Julius Randle is part of their future, or will they treat him like year-old GameStop stock and sell high. https://t.co/10v7bWNs7Z
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) February 3, 2021
Oladipo, who was acquired by Houston in mid-January as part of the blockbuster James Harden trade, is averaging 21.0 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in 31.7 minutes per game with the Rockets.
In a local radio interview last week, Stone said the Rockets were hopeful of keeping the 28-year-old on a longer-term basis. His comments:
I hope so. We’ve had a lot of conversations. He’s been a great addition, not just on the court, but off the court. A really, really good guy.
In our talks with Vic, it’s more, let’s get to know each other. Hopefully this is a wonderful marriage. Again, his first practice with the team was yesterday. I think he really enjoys his teammates and his coaches. I know he and coach Silas are going to spend some time today looking at film. We’re trying to build. So, I very much hope so — that’s what I would say.
Oladipo has made it clear in interviews that he’s happy in Houston. But that doesn’t guarantee that the sides will be aligned, financially.
At the moment, Oladipo is only eligible to sign a two-year extension with the Rockets for $45.2 million. However, as of June 21, he will be able to sign a four-year deal to stay in Houston for up to $112.9 million. Oladipo will turn 29 years old in May, so he might want extra years of security.
While the Rockets and Oladipo can’t put pen to paper on most longer-term proposals before the March 25 deadline, they could attempt to have an understanding as to whether it’s viable — both from Oladipo’s perspective regarding his desire to stay, as well as from the team’s side and whether they deem him worthy of that type of major investment.
The Rockets and Oladipo don’t need a resolution today, but it’s a storyline worth monitoring in the coming weeks. Houston would have Bird rights on Oladipo in free agency, which could theoretically open up sign-and-trade possibilities, should the two sides not agree on a long-term deal to keep him in Houston. But with a shortage of star free agents and numerous teams having cap room, a big name such as Oladipo might not need help in the 2021 offseason to get to his next destination. In turn, that could make it risky to bet on the potential of a sign-and-trade.
[lawrence-related id=44057,43699]
https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=QxVn6JiumK-1129934-7498&format=json&offsetx=0&offsety=0&floatwidth=400&floatposition=bottom-right&float=on