Former Hoosier Victor Oladipo Traded to Oklahoma City Thunder
After three seasons in Bloomington and 10 in the NBA, former Indiana legend and No. 2 overall pick Victor Oladipo has been traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder by the Miami Heat.
The move was first reported by The Athletic's Shams Charania during the opening night of the NBA's free agency period. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski later added details to the initial report of the trade, reporting that Oklahoma City would be receiving draft compensation from Miami and absorbing Oladipo's $9.45 million contract, allowing Miami to create a trade exception of $9.45 million in the deal.
Oladipo was originally drafted by the Orlando Magic in 2013, and during his 10-year career, he has also played for the Thunder, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets, and most recently the Miami Heat.
Oladipo suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee during the closing moments of Miami's Game 3 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Round 1 of the NBA playoffs. It was a major setback for the two-time NBA All-Star, who first broke out during the 2017-18 season with the Pacers, but soon suffered a major injury during the 2018-19 season, rupturing his quadriceps tendon in his right knee and missing the remainder of that NBA regular season. This current injury is likely to keep him out of most of thje 2023-24 season.
Oladipo had a productive 2022-23 campaign with the Heat, averaging 10.2 points in 42 total games, coming off the bench in 40. Despite his absence, the Heat won the Eastern Conference title, and lost to the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals. He has scored 8,503 points in his NBA career, and has averaged in double figures in every season.
The Thunder are a team on the rise in the Western Conference and one of the NBA's youngest squads, making it unlikely this will be a long-term home for Oladipo moving forward. The Heat, meanwhile, have been reported to be pursuing NBA superstar Damian Lillard after he requested a trade from the Portland Trail Blazers. The $9.45 million trade exception the Heat created in its trade of Oladipo could prove vital in that pursuit. For a full story on Lillard's trade request, go to FastBreak on FanNation.
Oladipo is 43rd on the Indiana all-time leading scoring list, finishing his Hoosier career with 1,117 career points. During his three seasons at Indiana, he was selected to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team, the 2013 First Team All-Big Ten, and the 2013 First Team All-American. Oladipo was also selected as the 2013 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the 2012-13 Indiana team that won the Big Ten regular season title under coach Tom Crean.
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