As the end of the 2019-20 NBA season draws closer, rumors have started to swirl around veteran shooting guard Victor Oladipo and his future with the Indiana Pacers . Oladipo may still have one year left on his contract, but if they fail to reach an agreement regarding a contract extension this fall, the Pacers may consider making him available on the trading block . One of the teams that could express interest in trading for Oladipo in the 2020 offseason is the Golden State Warriors.
According to Tony Pesta of Fansided’s Blue Man Hoop , the Warriors could offer a package that includes Andrew Wiggins and the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft to acquire Oladipo from the Pacers.
“When looking at both rosters, the most obvious and straightforward way to make a deal is to offer up Andrew Wiggins and the No. 2 overall pick for Victor Oladipo. The Pacers would have to take on a bit of extra salary here as Wiggins is on a monstrous long-term deal. But, that’s the price of being forced to trade a disgruntled star. They still walk away with a solid building block in Wiggins, who is still only 25 years old. Indiana also gets a chance to draft a top prospect and begin their rebuild.”
Though it is expected to affect their salary cap flexibility in coming years, the proposed deal is undeniably a no-brainer for the Pacers. In exchange for Oladipo’s expiring contract, they would be receiving a talented wingman who fits the timeline of their core of Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis, and TJ Warren, plus a lottery selection in the upcoming draft.
Wiggins may have experienced plenty of ups and downs, but once he’s traded to a team that could give him more playing time and a significant role on the offensive end of the floor, he might finally live up to expectations from a former No. 1 overall pick. The Pacers could use the No. 2 pick to add another young and talented prospect or as a trade chip to further improve their roster.
Meanwhile, the proposed deal would be a huge gamble for the Warriors. Aside from being a possible one-year rental, Oladipo is yet to fully recover from his injury. However, once he regains his touch and returns to 100 percent health, he would undoubtedly be a big help in furthering Golden State’s goal of reclaiming the NBA championship title and reviving their dynasty next year.
