Things will get busy for the New York Knicks in the offseason. In search of relevance in the NBA, the team is reportedly on a shopping spree in the season break and there are big names already shortlisted by the organization. But the priority target is said to be Victor Oladipo.
The Indiana Pacers star will enter next season with just a year remaining on his contract. Oladipo said he does not intend to jump to a different team in the offseason but the Knicks are seen to make an attempt anyway. And because they can.
The Knicks appeared confident trading for Oladipo will be a worthwhile venture and they have the assets to do so. Over the next four draft picks, the team boasts of seven first-rounders that the Pacers would find interesting, according to The New York Post.
And money is not an issue as well. New York will make a bid on the point guard fully prepared.
Added the report: "The Knicks have cap room to make a deal for a high-salaried player without giving back the same cluster of wages."
Earlier rumors said the Knicks' search for a point man would lead to the signing of Chris Paul in the coming weeks but the report did maintain NY is keener on getting Oladipo on board. The reason is simple - the Pacers star is seven years younger and should prove a wiser investment.
However, the Knicks need to consider too that their target signing is still recovering from the injury he suffered in January 2019. Oladipo nursed a ruptured quad tendon and his journey back to top-form was not easy. In fact, Oladipo is far removed from being 100%.
At best, Clutch Points said the two-time All-Star is "a shell of his former self." Indiana battled with the Miami Heat in the Orlando playoff and Oladipo showed the quality that won him raves a few years back. He shot nearly 18 points per game and his accuracy was at 39.3%, not bad for a man who spent over a year to recover and rehab.
Yet the bottom line, Oladipo's strength has yet to reach the optimal level and his rhythm is off. The Knicks will need to exercise patience as it could take time before a return on an Oladipo investment, given his current status, is realized.
In any case, Oladipo's recent Instagram post dismissed the rumors that he is working to join a new team for a new challenge outside of Indiana. The star stressed that leaving is not in his mind and the focus is to work his knee to be solid again.
