Most NBA analysts believed that Victor Oladipo’s time with the Indiana Pacers was coming to an end soon and that he would leave the team in 2021 free agency. However, rumor has it that the former All-Star shooting guard would rather leave as soon as possible.
Oladipo started his career with the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder before being traded to Indiana in 2017, where he bloomed into one of the top shooting guards in the league. In his first season in Indiana, he became a first-time All-Star, led the league in steals, and was named to the All-Defensive First Team, also taking home the award for the NBA’s Most Improved Player.
Even if Oladipo does want to leave, the Pacers have the most say in the matter right now. He is under contract for the next season and will earn $21 million.
However, Oladipo is coming off an injury and if he truly does want out, it could be smarter for the Pacers to trade him now while his stock is high instead of letting him go in free agency without getting anything in return. Still not 100 percent after suffering a serious right knee injury in 2019, Oladipo only played in 19 games for Indiana this season.
