Grading the best NBA fits for former star Victor Oladipo

Once an All-NBA guard and two-time All-Defensive team stud, Victor Oladipo was the prototype teams wanted in a modern two-way star: explosive, competitive, switchable, a dawg. The No. 2 overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft was hyped for a limitless ceiling.

But in January 2019 with the Indiana Pacers, Oladipo suffered a ruptured quad tendon, keeping him out for the rest of the season. He would never be the same. Recurring setbacks in Miami, including a torn patellar tendon, have kept him out of the NBA since 2023.

At 33, Oladipo — who now plays for the Guangzhou Loong-Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association — has been in basketball limbo. Still, there was a glimmer of the old Oladipo this week. In two preseason games against the San Antonio Spurs, the former star averaged 22 points, 2.5 rebounds, four assists, 3.5 steals and one block. 

Oladipo’s skill set still has value in today’s game. He doesn’t need to be the 20-point scorer from Indiana anymore. Here are five NBA teams that could use him:

New York Knicks

New York thrives on immense pressure and mental grit — qualities Oladipo embodied at his peak. New head coach Mike Brown prefers effective off-ball guards, and Oladipo’s grizzled voice could bolster a locker room adjusting to championship expectations. Even if he plays 10-15 minutes a game, his defensive communication could allow him to share the backcourt with Jalen Brunson as a point-of-attack defender. Plus, he could take open shots in a read-and-react motion offense. But the Knicks recently lost Malcolm Brogdon (retirement) to a dice roll on health. The backcourt needs stability, not more risk. | Fit: B-

Miami Heat

A reunion might sound improbable given his injury history in South Beach and the Heat finally embracing youth. But the Heat’s culture has always valued redemption stories. With their guard rotation perpetually in flux because of injuries, Oladipo could provide depth and leadership behind Davion Mitchell. He already knows the system and the defensive standard. If the Heat pivots from Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, Oladipo would provide roster flexibility as a placeholder between eras. | Fit: B

Indiana Pacers

No place holds more meaning for Oladipo than Indiana, where he became a star and captured the league’s imagination with his energy post-Paul George trade. The Pacers’ current group could use a seasoned voice to fill the enormous absence of guard Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered a torn right Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals and will probably miss the season. If nothing else, it’s poetic — the franchise that helped build him offering one more shot at closure. | Fit: A+

Oklahoma City Thunder

Before he was the guy in Indiana, Oladipo was a bridge player in OKC — learning alongside Russell Westbrook, adapting to the pace and pressure of winning basketball. The Thunder’s young roster, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, could benefit from an inexpensive veteran who’s been through the highs and lows of the league. Their roster is approaching a massive luxury-tax bill next summer, and if the Thunder start auctioning off pieces like Luguentz Dort, Oladipo could be a cheap rental who becomes a key depth piece. | Fit: A

Houston Rockets

HC Ime Udoka’s Rockets have an identity built on toughness and accountability. If Oladipo stays healthy, he’d be a perfect culture piece — adding size to both guards spots while Fred VanVleet nurses a torn ACL. | Fit: C