Former Indiana Guard Victor Oladipo Traded To Houston Rockets

The Oklahoma City Thunder traded former Indiana Hoosiers guard Victor Oladipo to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday in deal involving Kevin Porter Jr., Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and several draft picks.

Former Indiana Hoosiers guard Victor Oladipo was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets Tuesday in a deal involving four teams, first reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

• According to Wojnarowski, the Houston Rockets are trading guard Kevin Porter Jr., and two future second-round picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder — who are waiving Porter Jr., immediately. Thunder are sending the Rockets guard Victor Oladipo and forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl in the transaction.

• The Thunder are acquiring a 2027 second-round pick via Minnesota and a 2028 second-round pick via Milwaukee in the deal, sources said. Porter Jr. is facing assault charges based on an incident with a girlfriend. OKC is essentially buying the two picks and releasing Porter Jr.

• The Thunder will have to pay the $16.9M guaranteed left on Porter Jr.'s contract as they waive him. OKC gathered four second-round picks in acquiring and moving Oladipo's $9.5M expiring deal this offseason. OKC has 15 first-round and 22 second-round picks over the next seven years.

Oladipo returns to Houston, where he made 20 starts during the 2020-21 season. Though it's a small sample size, this was an impressive stretch of Oladipo's NBA career, as he averaged 21.2 points, 5.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds for the Rockets.

Oladipo, 31 years old, is entering his 11th season in the NBA. He was originally selected as the No. 2 overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2023 NBA Draft, following an All-American college career at Indiana under coach Tom Crean.

He has played for five NBA teams, including the Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets and Miami Heat. Oladipo made the 2013-14 All-Rookie team, and was a two-time All-Star with the Pacers in 2017-18 and 2018-19. 

During the 2017-18 season, Oladipo was named to the All-NBA third team, NBA All-Defensive team, Most Improved Player of the Year and led the league in steals. That was his most productive statistical season, averaging 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.4 steals on 37.1 percent 3-point shooting. 

Including his 2023-24 contract, Oladipo's career earnings are estimated to reach $124,764,581, according to Spotrac. He most recently signed a two-year, $18 million deal with the Miami Heat before the 2022-23 season.

Despite this success, Oladipo's NBA career has often been marred by injuries. It started in 2019, when Oladipo suffered a ruptured quad. With various other injuries, he played 42 games or less each season in a five-year stretch from 2019-23. Most recently, Oladipo suffered a torn patellar tendon during a 2023 NBA Playoff game as a member of the Miami Heat.

Oladipo's availability for the 2023-24 season remains unclear. On Sept. 27, Thunder general manager Sam Presti said Oladipo won't report to the Thunder's training camp, but he will "be back this season at some point."

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