The 2021 NBA trade deadline is set for March 25, and the All-Star Game is in the rearview mirror, so all sorts of rumors are going to start popping up. One such rumor comes from The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, who, in his latest power rankings, reports that the Golden State Warriors are interested in Victor Oladipo.
“Golden State’s interest in Oladipo signals the front office’s intentions to find another ball handler,” he writes. “[Steph] Curry and Draymond [Green] remain excellent offensive engines, but the Warriors are missing the next Andre Iguodala or Shaun Livingston. Could Oladipo fill that role? Though his scoring efficiency is down now, he would receive better looks when surrounded by better talent. He can also still generate shots for others off the dribble and play hard-nosed defense.”
Oladipo, 28, was already traded once this season from the Indiana Pacers to the Houston Rockets. The two-time All-Star has struggled mightily in limited action, shooting just 38% from the floor over 15 games with his new squad. He’s still an intriguing trade target, though. For one, he’s still shaking off the rust from a lengthy recovery process after suffering a ruptured quad tendon in 2019. And to O’Connor’s point, he’s significantly more of a playmaker than wings like Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr., even if their scoring averages are similar.
The Warriors don’t have a ton to offer the Rockets, who are clearly heading for a rebuild and have lost 13 games in a row. The Rockets, meanwhile, don’t have a great shot at re-signing Oladipo for that very reason (he recently declined a two-year contract extension, which isn’t a huge surprise but probably doesn’t bode well).
So what’s a realistic swap that makes sense for both organizations? I’m putting my GM hat back on, which previously led to a couple of very angry Dubs fans’ emails when I attempted the same exercise with Kristaps Porzingis. This time, surely no one will be upset at this fair-for-both-sides deal: Victor Oladipo to Golden State in exchange for Kelly Oubre Jr., Brad Wanamaker, Alen Smailagic and the Warriors’ lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick.
I’ve seen a few people float Oladipo-for-Andrew Wiggins trades, which I can tell you now will never happen because Wiggins has three years left on his very expensive contract. Oubre and Wanamaker have contracts that expire after the offseason just like Oladipo, and Oubre will at least be cheaper than Oladipo this summer if the Rockets decide they want to keep him around. He’s a decent wing to take a flyer on, and they grab a future mid- to late first-round pick, too.
Golden State reloads their backcourt for the season, adds a desperately needed creator to a Curry-centric offense and hopes said creator regains his All-Star form. A semi-decent future first-round pick is needed to make what’s essentially Oubre for Oladipo fairer.
Is this worth it for the Dubs? I’d lean yes. For the Rockets? Feels a little tougher, but if they happen to know internally Oladipo is definitely gone, an extra draft pick and a talented young role player is a nice haul.
