It looks like Indiana Pacers will have to break the bank if they want to keep All-Star guard Victor Oladipo. According to Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, Oladipo is eyeing a max-contract when he becomes a free agent next summer.
While the final number will depend on several factors, it is believed that the max-contract for Oladipo would include a four-year deal worth around $112.8 million. Indiana wasn’t ready to commit that kind of money so far, having made a lower offer to the 28-year-old player last season.
Oladipo is definitely a max-contract player when he’s at his best. But the problem for Pacers is that he wasn’t at his best or even played a lot since coming to Indiana.
In the first season with Pacers in 2017/18, Victor Oladipo played lights out, earning his first All-Star appearance, All-NBA selection, and the award for NBA’s Most Improved Player. The following season also started well for Oladipo, but he ended up rupturing the quad tendon in his right knee that sidelined him for more than a year.
Oladipo returned to court in late January but hasn’t looked like the same player since. He only averaged 14.5 points during 19 games in the 2019/20 regular season, although the numbers slightly went up during the playoffs.
This slow return reportedly worried Pacers enough to start listening to trade offers for Oladipo. So far, New York Knicks and LA Lakers emerged as potential suitors, although Boston Celtics are also believed to be monitoring the situation.
