Warriors reportedly interested in trading for Victor Oladipo

“League sources say the Warriors have interest in acquiring Rockets guard Victor Oladipo,” Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer noted on Monday. “Golden State’s interest in Oladipo signals the front office’s intentions to find another ball handler. The Warriors need more wing depth and another ball handler, and Oladipo should be one of the players they’re at least thinking about.”

There’s a ton of complexities when looking at Warriors rumors of this ilk leading up to the trade deadline. First off, Golden State is not going to move the first-round pick it acquired in the D’Angelo Russell for Andrew Wiggins trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves last winter. That selection is top-three-protected in 2021 and unprotected in 2022. Oladipo’s market does not suggest the Rockets receiving that pick in a trade.

Secondly, Golden State would only be able to offer Houston either its first-round pick in 2026 or 2027 as the “centerpiece” in a potential Oladipo trade short of moving that highly valuable Wolves pick.

What we do now is that the 28-year-old Oladipo is firmly on the NBA trade block after he turned down an extension with the Rockets recently. An impending free agent, Houston does not want to face the possibility of losing the two-time All-Star for nothing in free agency. Currently in the midst of a 13-game losing streak, general manager Rafael Stone needs to start building for the future.

Acquired in the James Harden blockbuster trade back in January, Oladipo is averaging 19.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists with Houston this season. However, he’s shooting a substandard 39% from the field. That lack of efficiency has to be considered concerning.

Why would the team pull off a Victor Oladipo trade?

This is the million-dollar question. A potential trade makes sense for Golden State if the team doesn’t believe it can acquire a higher-end player once the summer comes calling.

Young center James Wiseman and the Timberwolves’ first-round pick could potentially net the Warriors a truly elite player like Bradley Beal to team up with Curry and Thompson — building another championship contender in Northern California.

Outside of that unlikelihood, rumors linking the Warriors to an Oladipo trade could make sense. They don’t have the cap room to add the star guard in free agency this coming summer.

Acquiring Oladipo now would enable Golden State to offer him a max contract. It would be costly for a team that’s already over the luxury tax, but the Warriors’ ownership group has been willing to spend money in order to remain relevant.

There’s also a pretty decent question about fit. An argument could be made that Oladipo would slide in at the two with Thompson moving to small forward. Add in Draymond Green at the four and Wiseman at center, and this could be a championship-caliber team.

How might an Oladipo trade to the Warriors look?

As noted above, a blockbuster of this ilk would be complicated. Houston is not giving Oladipo away for nothing. He’s a pending free agent, meaning there’s no guarantee of a return to San Francisco should this hypothetical trade come to fruition. With that in mind, here is a look at one option.

• Warriors get: Victor Oladipo 
• Rockets get: Kelly Oubre, Eric Paschall, Jordan Poole, Marquese Chriss, two future second-round picks

In lieu of picking up a first-rounder for Oladipo, the Rockets settle on two youngsters in Poole and Paschall. Both boast solid upside and could be part of Houston’s long-term rebuild. Stone and Co. also add two future second-round picks.

From a Warriors perspective, this is questionable. Not only is the team giving up young depth, but it is moving off a solid three-and-D wing in Oubre, who has picked it up recently. Any move of this ilk would have to be done with full confidence that Oladipo re-signs in free agency and with the belief that an improved Andrew Wiggins takes to a sixth man role.