The Miami Heat acquired point guard Victor Oladipo from the Houston Rockets on Thursday, it was announced.
Although sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski earlier this week that there was widespread confidence that Houston would negotiate with Oladipo, the teams went until the 3 pm ET deadline before agreeing to the negotiation.
In return, the Rockets receive custody Avery Bradley, striker Kelly Olynyk and 2022 exchange rights in the first round. These exchange rights include the choice of Brooklyn Nets.
With Oladipo in Miami, the Heat is also expected to emerge as a favorite to sign LaMarcus Aldridge, sources said to Wojnarowski. The great veteran completed a purchase with the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, it was announced. Sources told Wojnarowski that the purchase was $ 5.8 million
Five years of unforgettable memories … Thank you, San Antonio! pic.twitter.com/tRscfpnZax
– LaMarcus Aldridge (@ aldridge_12) March 25, 2021
Aldridge plans to talk to several teams before finalizing a decision, according to Wojnarowski.
Miami also signed Nemanja Bjelica of the Sacramento Kings for strikers Maurice Harkless and Chris Silva.
Oladipo, 28, is in the final season of a $ 85 million four-year contract and could become a free agent this summer. He broke his quadriceps in January 2019, but showed some moments of his former personality in performances with Indiana and Houston this season. Oladipo has an average of 21.2 points in 20 games with the Rockets, although his efficiency has been less than ideal.
He arrived in Houston as part of a four-team exchange that delivered All-NBA playmaker James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. The Rockets offered Oladipo a two-year, $ 45 million contract – the maximum offer they were available to make during the season under the collective bargaining agreement – but Oladipo declined, the sources said.
Oladipo has averaged 20.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists with the Rockets this season. In his nine-year career, including stops at the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, he averaged 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists.
The twice-selected All-Star was also one of the best defenders, being nominated for the All-Defensive First Team in 2018, when he led the NBA in steals and was also voted the Most Improved Player in the league.
The Rockets, who lost to Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday after ending a streak of 20 games lost on Monday night, are in a way of bringing young players together and choosing assets as they move into reconstruction.
An eight-year veteran with an expiring contract, Olynyk has averaged 10.0 points and 6.1 rebounds for the Heat this season. He spent his first four seasons with the Celtics and has a career average of 9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds.
Bradley, who averages 8.5 points, barely played this season because of COVID-19 and after a calf injury. He has also played for the Pistons, Clippers, Grizzlies and Lakers during his career and has averaged 11.7 points and 2.9 rebounds over 11 seasons.