OKC Thunder: The Case For Keeping Victor Oladipo

It would be easy to write off Victor Oladipo with his long history of injuries and uncertainty, but there is value in keeping him around.

Since he suffered his first significant injury in 2019, Oladipo has struggled to stay on the floor, playing in only 102 games since the beginning of the 2019-20 season.

Unfortunately, Oladipo missed all but two games of the Heat’s finals run after tearing the patellar tendon in his left knee. There is optimism he could return to the floor early in the 2023-24 season.

While the Thunder already have a plethora of guards to give minutes to, it means Oladipo could recover and return to the floor in a low-pressure environment. As long as the Thunder keep the two-time all-star around, his presence off the floor could be his most valuable asset.

Although injuries have stifled him in recent years, Oladipo brings in 10 seasons of NBA experience. Having played at an all-star level while in Indiana, Oladipo could help lay the groundwork for one of the young stars in OKC.

As a rookie, Oladipo’s numbers were nearly identical to Jalen Williams’ stats last season. Williams was a more efficient scorer and threw down twice as many dunks. With some guidance from Oladipo, he could make the leap from rising star to all-star quicker than expected.

Rookie Cason Wallace would also benefit from a mentor like Oladipo. In 2018, Oladipo led the league in steals and earned first-team all-defense honors. Both of those are attainable goals for Wallace, also a 6-foot-4 guard, over the next few seasons.

If all goes well, Oladipo’s impact on Williams and Wallace could be similar to Chris Paul’s influence on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in 2019-20.

As for what Oladipo can bring to the floor, he is still a solid player who can contribute on both ends. Last season in Miami, he averaged 10.7 points and more than a steal per game.

Although Oladipo would have a limited role with the Thunder, he also provides some playoff experience. Excluding Davis Bertans, Oladipo has played in more playoff games than the rest of the Thunder roster combined.

As will be the case for most of the current roster, Oladipo played his first playoff game with the Thunder back in 2017. Since that debut, he has played in 33 total playoff games and was a key contributor in the Heat’s 2022 conference finals run. Not necessarily championship experience, but it's still the closest thing OKC has currently.

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what Oladipo’s role would be with the Thunder. The Thunder have prioritized development over all else in recent years, which could minimize playing time for the 31-year-old.

Ultimately, he will have to fight for his spot in the rotation. The bright side for Oladipo in that fight is that he is a proven veteran who could provide the consistency the younger players struggle to find.

His one season with the Thunder in 2016-17 may also help his chances of staying around. Oladipo already has a relationship with GM Sam Presti, and there is no doubt the fanbase would be thrilled to see him in a Thunder uniform again.

Despite all the negatives, Oladipo still played in 42 games last season, the most he’s played in since 2018. Assuming he can fully recover, he is on the path to reviving and extending his NBA career. And there is no better place for him to start that journey than Oklahoma City.