The Miami Heat’s free agency is underway, just as the rest of the NBA’s are. In one of the expected moves of the day about a guy that seemed destined to stay with Miami for the long haul, P.J. Tucker will, indeed, take his game to Philadelphia to play with his former teammate and boss in James Harden and Daryl Morey, along with, arguably, the best big in the league in Joel Embiid.
However, the Miami Heat did manage to keep one of the guys that you would have most wanted to have back, right alongside Tucker. Victor Oladipo is returning to the Miami Heat on a one-year pact.
Though just for the lone year, that’s a step in a growing relationship that can only hope to continue if Oladipo continues to reacclimate himself the way he has been.
Free agent Victor Oladipo has agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal to return to the Miami Heat, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2022
The Miami Heat may have lost P.J. Tucker, but they kept Victor Oladipo. His playoff defense was something to behold as well, helping offset Tucker’s exodus.
Stepping up big in his opportunities and on both sides of the ball, Oladipo showed more than enough to land the $11 million and the obvious Heat desire to retain him. You look back at his showings throughout the playoffs when called upon and the potential that’s still there for him really makes you excited.
From his Game 5 showing against Atlanta in Round 1 to his defense on Jaylen Brown among others in the Boston series, you can really see where he is getting back to being the Old Dipo.
When you think about the fact that he’s doing it in Miami, a defensive-oriented team, a team that’s going to work hard, and a team that’s known for getting the absolute most out of all their guys, things could really begin to look electric again with him.
To reiterate, you hate losing P.J. Tucker, but bringing back Oladipo is enough to, at least, consider those two moves an even split. Pat Riley and the rest of the brain trust will, inevitably, bring someone in to fill that spot, but having Victor Oladipo back in the mix is a huge reason why that’s ok.