Victor Oladipo had a team-high 23 points for the Miami Heat in their closeout win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, but is reportedly unhappy in Miami and looking for greener(?) pastures. Sean Deveney of Heavy.com shared a report from an anonymous GM saying Oladipo definitely won’t return to Miami and will instead be looking for a team where he’d have a bigger opportunity.
“That is the first time he looked completely like himself,” the GM said. “I mean, he is still looking at a minimum, make-good contract next year. But the more he shows that, the more he moves to a position where he can pick his spot, decide where he is going to get playing time — a team like Sacramento or the Knicks or the Blazers.”
There are a few things to unpack here. Obviously, this is the thinnest of thin rumors. It’s random speculation from an anonymous GM describing the type of teams Oladipo might be looking at.
That being said, Oladipo in Sacramento wouldn’t be the craziest thing to imagine. Oladipo’s best years came alongside Domantas Sabonis. The two were teammates in Oklahoma City and Indiana, so there’s a connection there. There’s also a clear fit. The Kings are always wanting to add talent in their never-ending pursuit of the 10th seed playoffs.
My feelings about adding Oladipo would be very dependent on the specifics of the contract the Kings gave him (as well as what other roster moves happen or don’t happen as a result), but I can think of worse ideas that taking a one-year shot on a player who is one year removed from being a 20 PPG player.
“A team like Sacramento.” So…Stockton? The Washington Generals? The Cincinnati Reds?
The Jacksonville Jaguars…the Detroit Lions…
Victor, this is April 29, not April 1
Sign me up. Fox and Oladipo (if he’s the Oladipo of old) is quite a fit in the backcourt, especially with Davion and DD coming in relief. It also gives us another year to evaluate Donte and Davis and see what they can be for this team.
Davis only get one year left in his contact, how you can evaluate him if he plays behind those guards…….
Jeebus, if this organization is making its decisions based on the ability to evaluate Terance Davis, we are doomed.
Well they are building around Fox so we are doomed anyways, may as well base decisions off of bench players and borderline G leaguers.
We need to stop thinking like Kangz fans and start thinking like fans of teams with actual standards. In other words, we should not have any irrational expectations/hopes placed on bench players, middling veterans, unproven draft picks, undrafted free agents, two-way players, and anybody else whom nobody outside of Sacramento pays attention to. If Terence Davis can’t get minutes because the Kings sign Victor Oladipo, well, that’s Terence Davis’s problem for not being a better player. Same goes for Neemias Queta, Josh Jackson, Robert Woodard, Jah’mius Ramsay, Skal Labissiere, Harry Giles, George Papagiannis, Malachi Richardson, Ray McCallum, Nik Stauskas, Marvin Bagley, and the countless other has-beens, never-weres, and never-will-bes that Kangz fans have spent so much time over the past decade fervently expecting/hoping/praying to develop into something more than practice-scrimmage bodies. Our standards are so LOW around here! And the organization takes advantage of it, selling future G-Leaguers and Chinese Basketball Association bench players to us as “intriguing talents” and “exciting prospects” who we should pay attention to, year after year after year. It’s pathetic how we all get excited about the possibility of (for example) Neemias Queta developing into our “backup center of the future,” or about Josh Jackson “getting an opportunity” to “show us something” and “become a contributor.” Good lord, we are so beaten down after sixteen years of ineptitude, we’re placing hope in Josh Jackson! KANGZ. And that’s my rant for today.
Give Queta a ton of minutes. He needs to develop.
Why can’t we get into the playoffs once in two decades?
KANgZ
This is awesome. My favorite thing on the internet today and it’s almost midnight where I am. 🙂
He definitely gets it.
My primary concern is that we are talking about a player that has played 36, 33 and 8 games in his past three seasons (glass half full: He’s rested!). The secondary concern is that he is definitely not a floor spreader, and it seems that this would be a prerequisite at the wing positions for a team featuring Fox and Sabonis.
Oladipo was last NBA relevant in 2017-18. To put that in perspective, that was the year that Willie Cauley-Stein and Bogdan Bogdanovic were 1-2 in team minutes for the Kings, which was also De’Aaron Fox’s rookie season.
He and Fox will take the league by storm with fresh legs!
My thoughts:
PG: Fox
SG: Dipo
SF: Westbrick
I think Vivek would see that as a backcourt that could push for the play in.
He hasn’t played more than 36 games since … 2017-18.
😐
Go on..
Seems a bit late for the Oladipo train but if he’s returning to form and can suit up for a majority of games it could pay off. Kind of a risky gamble, not one I’d want to take if I were in his shoes…
I get it….. but I think no.
I know you no think.
I should be allowed to stab you for the sake of improving humanity. Nobody should be allowed to make jokes this bad unless they are The 3 Stooges.
Carl/Section/1951 are the MoonKnight version of the 3 Stooges, no?
I’m the one with the hair.
I enjoy these chats with you:
You’re the one without the hair, I see.
No.
🍿
At what price? I would prefer a healthy Divincenzo over an injury-prone Oladipo. As for depth, there are a few 2/3 wings in my top 7 in this year’s draft who I’d prefer also. (Sharpe, Daniels, Branham). But if the Kings draft Keegan Murray at 7 (he might fall that far), and it’s a cheap deal, sure, why not consider Oladipo for depth?
I think the 1st pick gets traded.
Dipo on a one year prove it contract would be fine.
for who?
I personally would pick Keegan Murray. He would be great alongside Sabonis.
I can’t argue with that, and I think there is a decent chance he falls to 7 because of the depth of PF’s at the top of this draft and I can see other teams drafting Ivey or Duren in the 4-6 range, based on their needs. I also think Branham would be a great fit on the court with Sabonis. Check out his shooting stats. Then watch his game film. Might be the best shooter in the draft. I’ve seen Caris Lavert comps for him. Shifty game like Khris Middleton or Brandon Roy. Daniels is impressive also and apparently still growing.
upon further review of Branham, can’t put him in a top 8. I got a little too excited about his shooting there. But Daniels, yes. he’s a top 7 guy. checks too many boxes. Aussie rules footballer. solves a lot of roster issues having a utility guy like that.
It depends where the Kings land. If its up they keep there pick. If its down they trade. If its #7 it’s a tossup.
I’d take a shot at Oladipo. He could start at the 2 for a year. Who knows, he’s back in form and the Kings resign him…. He turns 30 on Wednesday. There are guys who play quality minutes in their 30s.
Interesting. If he signed for a year, or maybe a 1 and 1 with a player option? And if he has a good season, would the Kings have Oladipo’s Bird rights? If he’s sound,. he’s absolutely a difference-maker.
I would rather try and get Tyrus Jones in FA rather than sign Olapido for one year. Jones could backup Mitchell or even start in some instances. His stats are exceptional.
Mitchell’s back-up?
You didn’t hear? Fox is getting traded for the other Mitchell.
Mitchell X2.
I hope not. Watched him play the other night and was not impressed at all. I think Fox plays better defense which right now doesn’t say alot
Wait, you were able to still watch Donovan Mitchell this late in the season? I’ll be damned!
I would say yes but Jones has no weaknesses and he hardly ever turns the ball over. Can shoot the three and plays really good defense. If Monty can get him for the right price he should not hesitate one bit.
Oh, I have no problem with Jones. He’s a quality back-up PG. My question was more about:
a. Mitchell being slotted in as an NBA starter.
b. Worrying about a 3rd PG after Fox and Davion.
To say nothing of wondering why Tyus would consider signing with the Kings if the plan was to have him play behind a relatively unproven 2nd year player.
Money talks. Even if Mitchell is #2 Jones still could be #1.
After one year, we’d have non-bird rights on him (weird name for it but that’s what it’s called). 120% of previous salary or 120% of minimum salary available as an exception. So pretty much nothing if he signs a minimum deal.
I’d be fine with a 1-year minimum contract. No eating into our mid-level exception money. The bi-annual exception is an idea but he probably just wants a 1 year deal so use the bi-annual on someone else.
Good explainer, thanks, catterj!
Serious question, at this point in his career, what does Oladipo do that Fox doesn’t? Or for that matter what does he do that Mitchell, DDV, or TD can’t do?
The last time he had a positive impact on a team, and that means affect the win total, was the 2017-18 season.
If wants to come to Hell for a vet minimum deal, then sure, but he could do that anywhere.
Sounds like he wants to actually play, but I think he might be better off doing what Otto Porter did this year, just somewhere that’s not Miami.
As I said a couple of posts up if we could grab Tyrus Jones at the right price I believe he is a better fit as the Kings backup guard, After awhile with the team I could also see him start in certain games or a least play quite a bit of minutes.
Jimmy Butler reportedly told Spo that he didn’t want to be on the floor with Oladipo. I’d like to know more about why Butler detests Oladipo so much and is likely to translate to Sacramento.
Jimmy Butler seems to hate everyone he plays with.
I’d be cool with him hating to play next to Fox and Sabonis.
He’d love Fox’s defensive effort. I think he’d be fine all around with Sabonis.
He certainly had issues with Simmons. Turns out…
And most Bulls he played with, and KAT, and Haslem, and Wiggins, and …
He’s a very good player, but his style of intensity seems to put a bit of a timer on his teams.
Primarily the ones that don’t put out effort, play team basketball and act entitled.
Butler is a drama queen but he always plays balls to the walls on the floor and therefore gets a pass for it.
I think there’s a smart strategy that could include Oladipo. I don’t see the Kings chasing that strategy though. It’s one that expects and plans for future roster moves. When they consider Oladipo, I think they shouldn’t just be thinking about his potential to add cheap wins IF he bounces back next season, but also (and perhaps moreso) about his potential as a trade asset at the deadline or off-season depending on the deal. The Kings should be looking multiple years/moves out. Ideally, if they sign Oladipo, they’d pay a little extra to try to add a second year team option to maximize his potential as an asset. As far as I’m concerned, they should even be transparent about it with him. “Come to Sacramento, and you’ll get minutes and usage to prove yourself. If we’re out of contention, we’ll talk again and if you ask, we’ll work to move you to a playoff team.”
That said, I’m not sure the Kings are looking multiple moves ahead and are more likely concentrating on doing everything possible to maximize their wins specifically during the 2022-2023 season.
Rondo: Vivek paid me $9 mil for 1 year
Oladipo: You the man. Give me his number
Can he play SF?
Kinda? Basically the same way everyone else on the Kings roster can play SF.
Has anyone mentioned the possibility of signing Monk as a free agent. I think I’d like this better than Oladipo. Monk has been improving each year and looks poised for a bit of a breakout. He shoots the 3 very well and he and Fox were great together in college and certainly have a good relationship on and off the court one would presume. I like his fit with Fox and I like the gamble that he will fit. I also like the possibility that they know they pair well with each other and could kind of unlock each other’s game to the next level. Monk fills a big need in my opinion and there’s a ton of potential upside there in theory.
Sign Monk, draft Keegan Murray and trade Barnes with some second round picks for a mid first this year that is a SF selection or a star caliber SF that needs/wants a change of scenery. Then you got Lyles, Holmes, Davion Mitchell, Dante and Davis as your bench unit.
Yes, but I’d pick Johnny Davis over Keegan Murray, who benefited from a great system at Iowa.
Perfect vet minimum type pickup. Great upside if you don’t have to offer much.
So you’re saying there’s a chance.
Badge Legend