Multiple teams target Victor Oladipo after Pacers offer is rejected

Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers reacts in the game against the Boston Celtics at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, March 10, 2020. /VCG

The Indiana Pacers should take their negotiations with Victor Oladipo more seriously as their four-year, 80-million-U.S.-dollar contract extension offer was rejected, according to Ian Begley of SNY.

As a small city team, the Pacers already have enough names on their payrols: three-year, 65 million for Malcolm Brogdon; three-year, 54 million for Myles Turner; four-year, 77 million for Domantas Sabonis. Even T.J. Warren and Jeremy Lamb will receive over 10 million U.S. dollars, so it's understandable that they want to save some money on keeping Oladipo.

Victor Oladipo of Team Stephen conducts a reverse dunk in the All-Star Game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, February 18, 2018. /VCG

The 27-year-old guard still has one year left with his current deal and it's worth 21 million U.S. dollars. Since he was traded to the Pacers in summer 2017, Oladipo reached his career peak by being named All-Star twice, the All-NBA Third Team (2018) and All-Defensive First Team (2018). He was also the Most Improved Player and steals leader in 2018.

The Pacers would not have even hesitated to offer him a maximum deal, but Oladipo, suffering from a ruptured quad tendon in his right knee in January 2019, concerned the team. Besides, thanks to the fallout with Chinese market and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, next season's NBA salary cap is likely to drop, giving the Pacers more reason to turn frugal.

Victor Oladipo (L) of the Indiana Pacers defends LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoffs at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, April 18, 2018. /VCG

According to Begley, there are already several teams looking forward to landing Oladipo via trade. For example, the New York Knicks, who squandered over 70 million U.S. dollars on a bunch of power forwards last summer, were desperate for someone who could cheer Madison Square Garden up. The Brooklyn Nets, who are waiting for Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant to come back from injuries, can certainly use another All-Star player to make new "Big 3."

According to Begley, the Pacers "are willing to go over the salary cap" to re-sign Oladipo if they have to in 2021 when he becomes a free agent. It's true that Sabonis made the All-Star of the season but he's not good enough to carry the team and neither is Turner, unless he improves his shooting. On the other hand, though Oladipo returned from injury, he still has a lot to work on to find the best version of himself and he may not be the leader in another team like he was in Indiana.

The two sides need each other and they just need to find a compromise that works for both.