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Former Hoosiers Star And Miami Heat Free Agent Victor Oladipo Unsigned As Free Agency Begins

Victor Oladipo was the No. 2 overall pick of the Orlando Magic in 2013 and a two-time NBA All-Star with the Indiana Pacers. But the 29-year-old guard suffered a serious  injury with the Miami Heat last season and has gone unsigned through the first two days of free agency.

Ben Stinar

Former Hoosiers Star And Miami Heat Free Agent Victor Oladipo Unsigned As Free Agency Begins
Former Hoosiers Star And Miami Heat Free Agent Victor Oladipo Unsigned As Free Agency Begins /

NBA free agency began on Monday evening, and money was thrown around like candy.

Yet, two-time NBA All-Star Victor Oladipo has not agreed to terms on a contract with any team as of Tuesday.

*** UPDATE, WEDNESDAY 5 p.m ET -- Victor Oladipo signs deal with Miami Heat. to read the story, CLICK HERE ***

Back in 2018, Oladipo was averaging 23.1 points per game as an offensive force, and 2.4 steals as a defensive stopper for an Indiana Pacers team that took LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the NBA playoffs.

The following season, he was an All-Star again.

What's happened since then?

Jan. 23, 2019: Oladipo goes down with an injury (ruptured quadriceps tendon) that keeps him out until Jan. 29, 2020.

Jan. 13, 2021: Oladpio gets traded to the Houston Rockets.

March 25, 2021: Oladipo gets traded to the Miami Heat.

April 8, 2021: Oladipo gets injured in just his fifth game with the Heat.

May 12, 2021: Season-ending injury announced by the Miami Heat for Oladipo.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported on Monday that some executives think there is the possibility that Oladipo could go unsigned for several months.

“Several execs say it’s possible [Victor] Oladipo, 29, could go unsigned for the next few months, until he can show he is ready to play,” Mannix reported.

The article from Mannix can be read in the hyperlink above, and tweets from Sports Illustrated with the article and Hoop Central with the quote from Mannix can be seen embedded below. 

Oladipo is just 29 years old, and if he can prove he is healthy, many teams would likely be lining up for his services. 

Next season will be his ninth year in the NBA, and he has played for the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets and Miami Heat. His career averages are 17.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. 

Oladipo played three seasons collegiately at Indiana, leading the Hoosiers to a No. 1 ranking and a Big Ten title in the 2012-2013 season under Tom Crean. He averaged 13.8 points per game during his junior year before deciding to turn pro.

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  • 2022 NBA MOCK DRAFT: Now that the 2021 draft is behind us, it's time to start looking ahead to next year. Several familar faces can be found in the first mock draft of the new season. CLICK HERE
  • BIG TEN PLAYERS SIGN NBA FREE AGENT DEALS: After the conclusion of the 2021 NBA Draft, several Big Ten basketball players have signed undrafted free agent deals. More will look for their opportunity to play professionally in the days following draft night. CLICK HERE
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Ben Stinar
BEN STINAR

Ben Stinar is a freelance basketball writer for HoosiersNow.com. He is a 2020 graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. You can follow Ben on Twitter @BenStinar.

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