Victor Oladipo’s run with the Miami Heat has not gone quite as expected so far. In the first season, Oladipo played four games with Miami before sitting out the rest of the 2020-21 season.
This season, Oladipo sat out most of the season recovering from knee surgery. When he finally returned to the floor, he played in eight games for the Heat.
The season was full of ups and downs for Oladipo, but he ended the season on a personal high note. He found a way to play valuable playoff minutes for the Heat off the bench.
He was even a member of the closing lineup for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. With that being said, the Heat are going to have to make some decisions this offseason.
They are over the salary cap, but they can go over the cap to sign him. In addition, they are not over the luxury tax and have exceptions they could use.
So, they have some money to sign role players, but not a whole lot to work with. Are they going to be able to re-sign Victor Oladipo?
Should they want to in the first place? If so, is it worth spending money to keep him?
Miami Heat: Will They Be Able to Re-Sign Victor Oladipo?
Victor Oladipo’s situation is very interesting. His sample size of recent games is so small.
In only eight games with the Miami Heat, the team didn’t get very much out of him. He averaged 12 points a game and showed some glimpses of his old Pacers self at times, but his play was more disappointing than encouraging.
He eventually found himself out of the rotation, with it becoming seemingly more likely that he would need to sign another one-year minimum deal this offseason to prove himself.
However, the postseason could have changed things a little bit. When players got hurt, Dipo was presented with an opportunity to prove himself in the postseason.
He made the most of this opportunity and earned his way back into the rotation. The numbers might not jump out of the page, but Oladipo did a great job in these games.
There were some games that were won because of the contribution of his defense, forcing key turnovers in several instances. He also contributed to the scoring column in some games, scoring as high as 23 points in two games.
That is very impressive for someone in his circumstances.
Miami Heat: How Far Should They And Will They Be Willing To Go To Do It?
It is difficult to gauge where Oladipo stands among the rest of the Association. His play in the regular season did not provide much insight, but his postseason play was promising.
Still, it may have not been enough to sway GMs into committing to a bigger contract with Oladipo, as his injury history is also a major concern. There has been little news so far, but signs point to some teams being interested in the former All-Star.
One of those teams might be the Atlanta Hawks, perhaps an “ambitious” suitor for the resurgent combo guard. Pairing a defensive guard like Oladipo with the star of the Hawks, Trae Young, would be a perfect fit.
Considering the way Oladipo stepped up for the Miami Heat in the playoffs, he should be a priority for them this offseason. It may be more difficult to keep him this season if you’re the Heat though, as he is sure to draw interest from other teams in the NBA as well.
Another minimum contract would be ideal to save money, but the Heat should be willing to spend this offseason. History has shown that teams willing to spend are more likely to win championships.
That should be the focus for Miami right now.