Victor Oladipo will be a name to keep a close eye this offseason as the Indiana Pacers could consider trading the All-Star shooting guard. It has been rumored that Oladipo has no plans to re-sign with the Pacers. One team to keep an eye on could be the Dallas Mavericks.
Obviously, the Pacers would rather figuring out how to keep Oladipo long-term. He is the face of their franchise and the fans absolutely love him. However, they cannot afford to risk another Paul George situation.
During the 2019-20 NBA season, Oladipo came back from a ruptured quad injury that kept him out for a full year. He played in 19 games, averaging 14.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. In the four playoff games the Pacers played, Oladipo averaged 17.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.
His fit with the Mavericks might be exactly what Oladipo needs to get back to full strength. Dallas would allow Oladipo to play as the No. 3 option behind both Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.
Bleacher Report has listed Oladipo as a perfect trade target for the Mavericks. They gave a brief reasoning for why they feel that way.
Assuming he’s healthy, Oladipo would be a nice fit alongside Doncic and Porzingis. Tim Hardaway Jr. had a great season as a catch-and-shoot option out of Luka’s drives, but Oladipo is a two-time All-Star who could raise the ceiling, particularly on defense.
If Oladipo can return to his All-Star form, the Mavericks would be wise to pursue him. He is a top-notch perimeter defender and can wreak havoc on opposing offenses. As a scorer, he can shoot and create for himself, which would take pressure off of Doncic.
Being able to retain Oladipo long-term with an extension could be a contingency for this trade. Getting that done would give the Mavericks a legitimate “Big Three” to contend in the Western Conference.
Expect to hear a ton of rumors about Victor Oladipo this offseason. The Mavericks will not be the only team that would be a good landing spot for him. However, he could be a perfect trade target for them.
