1. Miami Heat
Player to sign-and-trade for: Victor Oladipo
Anyone that follows my work here at Lake Show Life knows that I was a big advocate in the Los Angeles Lakers trading for Victor Oladipo. Oladipo was eventually traded to the Miami Heat and for the package the Rockets got, the Lakers definitely could have made a move.
Oladipo ended up getting hut and we would have to assume, especially with the Lakers’ luck, that he would have gotten hurt in LA as well. That being said, it is safe to assume that Oladipo would not have made or break a deep playoff run for the Lakers.
Oladipo seems destined to re-sign with the Miami Heat but after the injury that might not be in the Heat’s best interest. Plus, Oladipo was not that great of a fit in the games that he did play in Miami.
This would all be contingent on whether or not Miami would want to pivot from Oladipo to Schroder and whether or not Oladipo wants to be a Laker. While he would have to pay state income tax with the Lakers, it is hard to see him not wanting to be a contender.
This is an upside move by the Lakers. Knowing Dennis Schroder is not a great fit and the options are limited, the Lakers would be betting on the upside of Oladipo, which as we have seen in previous years, is an all-star that is one of the best two-way players in the league.
That upside is definitely not guaranteed but sometimes contenders simply have to take a risk.