Houston Rockets owner Victor Oladipo declined a $ 45.2 million two-year contract extension, and as a result, his team may end up looking for him.
“Oladipo is in the last year of a four-year, $ 85 million contract, which leaves the Rockets with decisions to be made before the March 25 deadline – including whether they will make it available in trade negotiations,” wrote Adrian Wojnarowski about ESPN. “The transitional state of the Rockets’ list makes it likely that they will hear openings as they continue to meet Oladipo – and he comes to know them – since the mid-January exchange that brought him from Indiana as part of the James Harden blockbuster. “
It is rumored that the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks will be interested in it, if it is available.
“Houston has not yet been involved with the teams in commercial negotiations involving Oladipo, the sources said,” wrote Wojnarowski.
“Even so, Oladipo, 28, has the chance to become one of the best two-way players available within the negotiation or free agency period. Miami and New York are among the teams that became interested in Oladipo and both have space for the salary cap to hire him in the summer ”.
Oladipo was known as one of the fastest and most explosive guards in the league, but suffered a quadruple tendon tear in early 2019 and missed more than a year of action.
Since returning, he has struggled hard to fully recover his former form.
For the Heat, Oladipo can provide a guard that is a legitimate scoring threat. With Goran Dragic approaching 35 and going through a campaign full of injuries, Oladipo could strengthen the Miami defense squad.
It is rumored that Oladipo wants to join the Heat this off-season as a free agent. In that case, the Rockets may be forced to trade it with South Florida to obtain something of value in return.