Indiana Pacers: 4 questions that will be answered in Orlando

Pacers focus in Orlando: Is Oladipo ready?

The buzz has already started. Victor Oladipo is looked at as an attractive option in the trade market or 2021 free agency market if he becomes available in either scenario. The Knicks and Heat both have rumored interest in his availability if it does come to that.

The Pacers need to decide if they’ll go all-in and offer Oladipo a large enough extension that he can’t turn down before next year or if they’ll roll the dice and hope they can re-sign him (with 20+ teams vying for his services, many in larger, more attractive markets) as a free agent in 2021.

The team reportedly low-balled Oladipo with an $80 million extension offer before the season. I don’t have any insider information, but I believe that to be a courtesy offer and that the team will make Oladipo an extension this summer.

It doesn’t hurt to be able to get some further looks at Oladipo’s readiness and skill level following his quad injury in January of 2019. Oladipo was out for over a season recovering from surgery to prepare his injury, and only played in 13 games this season.

The results of those games were inconclusive. Oladipo is made for the playoffs, so having a chance to see him and what he’s able to do in a postseason setting is going to be great for swinging the front office’s intentions one way or another.