The Miami Heat agreed to acquire star guard Victor Oladipo from the Houston Rockets just before Thursday’s trade deadline, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Although sources told ESPN earlier this week that it was entirely possible Houston would trade Oladipo, the teams arrived on the deadline until 3 p.m. ET before accepting the deal.
In return, the Rockets will get Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and trade rights to 2022 first-round picks, sources told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Those trading rights include the Brooklyn pick, a source told ESPN.
With Oladipo in Miami, the Heat is expected to emerge as a favorite to sign LaMarcus Aldridge once the experienced power completes a buyout with the San Antonio Spurs, sources told Wojnarowski.
Aldridge plans to talk to multiple teams before making a decision, Wojnarowski said.
Oladipo, 28, is in the final season of a four-year $ 85 million contract and may become a free agent this summer. He sustained a quadriceps injury in January 2019, but has shown a glimpse of his old game this season in appearances with Indiana and Houston. Oladipo scored an average of 21.2 points in 20 games with the Rockets, although his efficiency was not optimal.
Oladipo came to Houston as part of a four-team exchange that brought All-NBA guard James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. The Rockets offered Oladipo a two-year $ 45 million deal, the maximum offer they could make during the season under the collective bargaining agreement, but Oladipo turned it down, sources said.
Oladipo has averaged 20.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists this season. In his nine-year career, including stops with the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder and the Pacers, he has 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists.