The Miami Heat have been cranking along all season. Sitting atop the Eastern Conference, Miami has endured plenty of injuries along their journey to the end of January.
Somewhat lost in the shuffle of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo’s injuries, Victor Oladipo has yet to play a game this season. Recent rumors have speculated that Oladipo could be returning to the hardwood in February.
Everyone remembers Oladipo, right?
After all, he is a former two-time All-Star, All-NBA Third Team member, NBA All-Defensive First Team member, and league leader in steals.
To say the least, he is an excellent NBA player. He, however, is coming off of a major injury and not his first, so what should we expect from Oladipo once he returns?
As far as his role, that is a situation that has yet to clearly begin to shake out, with a few different key Miami Heat role guys having excellent years. As far as his production in whatever that role might be, well, there is some predicting that can be done there.
Here’s what that means.
Miami Heat: What To Expect When Victor Oladipo Returns
Based on his career numbers, Oladipo is an excellent scorer and defender. Over 454 career games, he averages 17.5 points per game and 1.6 steals per contest as well.
Coupled with his 4.6 rebounds per game and four assists per game, it is no wonder that Dipo became a multiple-time All-Star.
These impressive numbers, however, are the result of playing 33 minutes per game over the course of his career. Coming off an injury, it is unlikely that Oladipo can maintain that level of wear and tear.
It is much more likely that he begins his comeback in a bench role.
Much like Klay Thompson, Oladipo is likely to start off only playing 20 to 22 minutes per game, if that, while slowly building up to a more robust role.
What type of player will the Heat get in a 20-22 minute per night role? That is a very interesting question.
You could look at it in a myriad of ways. The best case is a guy capable of all that has been described but at a peak level relative to his returning form and health, based on the fact that he should be able to max himself out in fewer minutes.
The worst case is a guy that struggles to find footing or a returning form due to a lack of volume and live game reps. You could pull a layer or so back there too though.
Miami Heat: Victor Oladipo Will Be Productive, Perhaps Just Not Immediately
If his career numbers run proportional to his minutes, he would average 11 points, three rebounds, three assists, and one steal per game off the bench.
Comparing these numbers to usual backup point guard Gabe Vincent, who averages 23.6 minutes per game this season, Oladipo would average two more points, grab one more board, secure similar assists, and match his steal numbers.
The Heat have made an investment in Oladipo. Teammates want him on the court.
Once he is cleared to play, he is likely to slot right into the nightly rotation. It may take Dipo a while to find his footing.
There will be rough shooting nights and bad defensive play at the start. He won’t be an All-Star caliber player straight away.
Fans will have to weather the good, the bad, and the ugly for a bit.
By the time Oladipo knocks off the rust though, it will be just in time for the closing stretch of the regular season. At that point, Miami will have a fully healthy former All-Star to help their chase for yet another Larry O’Brien Trophy.