Victor Oladipo shuts down trade rumors: 'I'm focused on now'

The trade rumors never really stop for Victor Oladipo. It feels like every week a new report surfaces that says Oladipo wants out of Indiana. However, the two-time All-Star once again insisted he does not want to be traded and denied the rumors of him being unhappy with the Pacers.

"Growing up, I was always taught not to engage in nonsense," Oladipo said. "I never have. I never came out and said that I didn't want to play for the Pacers or be in this organization but, yeah, I'm focused on now. Here and now."

It's a little difficult to know what to believe at this point. Typically, when it comes to trade rumors, where there's smoke, there's fire. In the last month alone, reports have stated that last season, Oladipo even spoke with players from the Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors, openly asking, "Can I come play with y'all?" in front of his teammates.

Since joining Indiana before the 2017-18 season, Oladipo has easily been the team's best player, consistently helping get the Pacers to the playoffs while proving to be a great scorer and playmaker.

However, he has missed significant time due to injury, and when he is not playing, the ceiling for Indiana looks much lower. This has caused some to wonder if Oladipo will eventually leave the Pacers to play for a team with more talent. With one year left on his current contract, Oladipo could leave after the 2021 season, which would be a brutal loss for the Pacers.