The Indiana Pacers tried to extend Victor Oladipo before the season, but given the price point they offered, it’s no surprise talks stalled
Domantas Sabonis might have established himself as the best player on the Indiana Pacers this season, but this is still Victor Oladipo‘s team.
Apparently, though, the Pacers low-balled an extension offer to him earlier this season. According to Ian Begley of SNY, the Pacers offered Oladipo a four-year, $80 million extension, far below the typical price point of a repeat All-Star.
Oladipo, who went down with a quad injury in late January 2019, was out recovering from that injury until January of this year. By the time he returned, he played just over 10 games and the NBA season was suspended.
There is a major gap between where the NBA has gone in that time and Oladipo’s presence. He is a huge question mark in the landscape of the Eastern Conference, causing potential fear for even the top-tier of the conference. He makes the Pacers a huge unknown in the playoffs, should the season resume.
Oladipo, when combined with Sabonis, Myles Turner, and Malcolm Brogdon, completes this team. He is the piece that the team was built around, and though the Pacers have held their own even without him, they could have gone to another level with him in full-swing.
Let’s step back, though, to the start of this season. Oladipo was recovering well, but had more progress to make on his quad recovery. The Pacers, having seen Oladipo just string together a Most Improved Player of the Year Award and two All-Star appearances in his two seasons since joining the Pacers, knew he was their guy, but there were question marks about his long-term health, and frankly, still are.
That leads to question marks about the idea of signing on for Oladipo long-term. a four-year deal for $80 million was never going to be accepted by Oladipo, Kevin Pritchard and the Pacers had to know that.
Likely, this offer that at first glance looks like a low-ball was simply a gesture saying, “we want you here, we want to build around you, and as long as all goes well, we will sign you to a substantial deal.”
Per Begley’s report, the Pacers are willing to go over the salary cap to re-sign Oladipo if they have to in 2021 when he becomes a free agent. That’s no surprise, but the team certainly would prefer to stay under the cap, especially being in a smaller market.
The Pacers, too, would certainly love to see a big season from Oladipo in his contract year before agreeing to sign him to a deal that pushes them above the cap. They already have Sabonis and Turner on substantial, $18 million-plus deals that, while affordable for what they provide, run up a bill when you start building out a 15-man roster.
Oladipo is the biggest piece of the team and is the largest question mark for the Pacers financially moving forward.
We’re going to see hypothetical trades tossed around until the Pacers and Oladipo agree on a new deal. Expect it. Prepare for it. I don’t see the Pacers trading Oladipo for anything less than a top-10 player in the league. His skill level and fit culturally in Indiana is worth building around.