The Golden State Warriors are among the teams with a strong interest in trading for Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo, according to Kevin O’ Connor of The Ringer.
Oladipo was traded to the Rockets from the Indiana Pacers in January. But given the Rockets’ struggles entering the All-Star break, and the fact Oladipo is eligible to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season … well, another move may only make sense.
Oladipo is said to prefer the Miami Heat in free agency, but has also been linked to the New York Knicks and several others.
“Golden State would not have the cap space to pursue him this summer, so the time to pounce would be now,” O’Connor wrote. “Houston can’t demand too much in a deal given Oladipo has underwhelmed and will become an unrestricted free agent.”
Oladipo, 28, is 6-foot-4 and two years removed from a major knee injury. He is averaging 20.0 points and 5.2 rebounds, but shooting a hair under 40 percent on the season.
As O’Connor noted, the Warriors don’t have much to give up in a possible deal. But given the injury to Klay Thompson, they may be looking to add another backcourt player/ball-handler next to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
“Curry and Draymond remain excellent offensive engines, but the Warriors are missing the next Andre Iguodala or Shaun Livingston,” O’Connor wrote. “Could Oladipo fill that role?”
The NBA trade deadline is March 25.
