Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo will be a free agent at the end of the season and he already may have his next destination in mind.
“I don’t think it’s any secret in the league Victor Oladipo has a desire to play in Miami,” ESPN insider Brian Windhorst said, via NBA Central. “He’d like to go there in free agency. They’re going to have cap space, so that may happen.”
Oladipo was traded from the Indiana Pacers to the Rockets as part of the James Harden deal with the Brooklyn Nets in January. But despite the pairing of Oladipo with John Wall in the backcourt, the Rockets (11-22) have lost 11 straight and 12 of 13.
Oladipo, 28, is averaging 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists on the season. He admitted after Monday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers that the Rockets offered a contract extension, saying it was “a long time ago.”
“They came at me with the offer,” Oladipo explained. “It was more along the lines of, ‘We know you’re not going to accept it, but we still want you to understand that we want you here.’ It was more that gesture, than anything. Didn’t go out of my way to ask, or anything like that. It was just kind of put in front of me, or given to me, to show that they want me to be here.
“I didn’t get a chance to say yes or no. They already were under the understanding, or they knew I wasn’t going to accept it, anyway. It’s business. That’s how this business works. I’m just focused on getting better. I’ve got to get minutes. Everything else will take care of itself.”
Several reports have already linked Oladipo to the Heat.
