Miami Heat Best Of 2020-21: Victor Oladipo Stint Was Brief, Yet Promising

Continuing our journey through the Miami Heat’s best moments of the 2020-21 season, this edition features a four-game glimpse of what was touted a game-changing acquisition. The Heat acquired former All-Star guard, Victor Oladipo, right at the March trade deadline in aspirations of another deep postseason run.

In exchange for Oladipo, the Heat shipped Kelly Olynyk, Avery Bradley, and a 2022 first round pick, as a potential missing piece was found for the Heat to compete against the Eastern Conference’s top powerhouses.

Oladipo drew the immediate start in place of Goran Dragic and Kendrick Nunn, who were both out due to injuries.

To compliment the defensive powerhouses of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, with the elite marksman Duncan Robinson, the possibilities were absolutely endless. However, much patience needed to be trusted with Oladipo, who hadn’t played a full season yet after a suffering season-ending right quadriceps injury in January 2019.

While it was greatly understood that the Miami Heat front office were attempting a high-risk move, an unfortunate reality occurred as the six-year guard would re-injure the same quadriceps after appearing in just four games — ending a short, yet propitious stint with Miami.

The Miami Heat needed a guy like Victor Oladipo and just before he went down, he was starting to look exactly like himself.

For weeks, there was found optimism from head coach, Erik Spoelstra, of an Oladipo return before the postseason, but the Heat ultimately came to a decision to shut down the 29 year-old guard for the remainder of the year. However, nothing subtracted the excitement around the Heat fanbase in wake of Oladipo’s debut.

This was once an elite two-way player, who was recently considered a top shooting guard in the league when he was healthy.

In his first two games against the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, Oladipo demonstrated an all-around ability which had been well coveted since the Orlando Magic drafted him second overall in 2013.

There were short glimpses of elite playmaking and defensive versatility, as Oladipo tallied exactly five assists with two steals in both outings against Cleveland and Golden State. Despite struggling to score efficiently in both of those outings — as he combined for just 14 points on 5-of-21 shooting, Oladipo seemingly fit the Heat’s lineups like a glove. 

He looked as great as ever from a physical standpoint, moved his feet defensively, and added a few well-timed cuts offensively, all while establishing some early chemistry with Bam Adebayo in pick-and-roll situations.

The Miami Heat got better with Oladipo, eventually, but he went down shortly after. Hopefully, both sides can reach fair understanding to move forward.

As each game went forward, both Oladipo’s confidence and shooting rhythm began to heighten. In the Heat’s, 124-112, loss against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 6th, Oladipo did tremendous work defending Ja Morant, holding the Grizzlies’ second-year standout to just 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting and forcing him into seven giveaways.

Oladipo finished with 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting in the loss. It’s also worth nothing that per 100 Possesions, the Heat were a plus-minus of +14.7 with a lineup of Oladipo, Butler-Robinson-Ariza-Adebayo on the floor.

Just before re-injuring his right quadriceps, Oladipo had undoubtedly his strongest performance for the Miami Heat against the Los Angeles Lakers. He finished with 18 points in 25 minutes.

In a night of several Heat highlights against the defending champions, Oladipo made two of his three attempts from outside, played tremendous defense in the post, and beat Lakers’ center Andre Drummond to the rim for ridiculous right-handed dunk.

It was clear that Oladipo checked off several boxes for what Miami needed on the perimeter and a potential fit between them was far from an April Fools joke. With Victor’s injury not helping Miami’s chances in the postseason, sitting him for the remainder of the year was the correct move for, perhaps, his career.

While the initial trade for Oladipo will likely be remembered as unsuccessful, Miami shouldn’t regret a move that statistically had put them further into a more balanced and complete defensive team. As the Heat currently hold Oladipo’s Bird Rights, they’ll be able to go above the salary cap to re-sign him this summer if need be and possibly, to a one-year Prove It type deal where he can prove that he belongs in the conversation as a core player on a winning organization again.

Whether Miami chooses to move forward with him or not, it must be decided very soon. Hopefully, both sides are able to work something out, because he may still have more moments like these left in him.