Houston Rockets security guard Victor Oladipo recently declined a contract extension of up to two years, $ 45.2 million, the maximum the franchise could offer him for the free agency this summer, sources told ESPN.
As expected, Oladipo is aiming for a long-term deal, something the Rockets can offer under collective bargaining until the low season.
Oladipo is in the final year of an $ 85 million deal, forcing the Rockets to make several decisions before the March 25 trading deadline, including whether to make the guard available at trade talks.
The transitional status of the Rockets roster makes it likely that the team will listen to offers as they get to know Oladipo better and he becomes more familiar with the franchise, which he came to from Indiana in mid-January as part of the James Harden. trade.
For the Rockets, after the James Harden and Russell Westbrook era, there are several options with Oladipo, including evaluating its value in the forex market, entering into a long-term deal in the summer, and partnering with Oladipo to regain value. sign off-season and trade talks or let him go to use cap space to sign other players in free agency.
It’s typical for teams to focus more on looking for transactions near the deadline, which is still a little less than a month away.
Oladipo, 28, has the chance to become one of the best players available on the trading deadline or in a free agency. Miami and New York are among the teams that have shown interest in Oladipo and both have the salary cap to sign him in the summer.
Before free agency starts, Houston could offer the guard a four-year extension, $ 131 million. When free agency starts, the Rockets will be able to offer him up to four years for $ 151 million or five seasons for $ 195 million.
Oladipo, who has shown he can be an elite defender, averaged 18.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 13 games with Rocket. In his nine years in the NBA, including stops at Orlando, Oklahoma City and Indiana, he averaged 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
Policy Insider Bobby Marks contributed to this report.