Anonymous NBA GM speculates Victor Oladipo won't remain with Heat

Victor Oladipo once seemed like a guaranteed lock to receive a max deal from the Indiana Pacers. Unfortunately, after getting bogged down by injuries and suffering a series of unlucky breaks, he is now on this third team in a two-year span.

Recently, Oladipo put on a memorable show in the Miami Heat’s first-round playoff closeout game against the Atlanta Hawks. He finished with a team-high 23 points and served as the squad’s emotional leader with Jimmy Butler out.

But will that translate into a long-term deal come this summer?

Clarity on that topic emerged this week.

In a conversation with NBA insider Sean Deveney, one general manager suggested that Oladipo is not in the Heat's long-term plans.

“That is the first time he looked completely like himself,” one general manager said. “I mean, he is still looking at a minimum, make-good contract next year. But the more he shows that, the more he moves to a position where he can pick his spot, decide where he is going to get playing time — a team like Sacramento or the Knicks or the Blazers. It’s not going to be Miami, that has been pretty clear. But a game like that is going to stick, it’s going to carry into the summer.”

The position is understandable. Oladipo has played in all of 12 regular-season games for Miami. He has made far more headlines for bizarre off-the-court matters than anything substantive he has done for his team.

Oladipo is a talented guy, and he will have the opportunity to prove himself somewhere come next season.

But unless he is willing to take a minimum deal, and maybe even in that scenario, it likely won’t be in Miami in 2022-23.