Kofi Inkoom
During his annual preseason press conference on Wednesday, Sam Presti, the General Manager of the Oklahoma City Thunder, made it clear that Victor Oladipo won’t be participating in the team’s training camp and might not continue to wear a Thunder jersey in future games.
Presti’s words were both cryptic and revealing :
“He’s great, he’s been through a lot, including for our franchise… he’ll be back at some point, but with our current squad, we can’t prioritize that.”
While expressing admiration for Oladipo’s abilities, Presti hinted at a decision looming on Oladipo’s contract.
“But we are big fans of him, he should be able to help someone when he comes back… we have a decision to make on his contract.” Presti said
This announcement comes in the context of the Thunder needing to create roster space, which raises the specter of Oladipo being one of the casualties of this necessity.
More : How to watch the OKC Thunder in the upcoming Season, full streaming guide.
Should Victor Oladipo be cut from the team, the competition for the last roster spot will likely boil down to a contest between F/C Jack White and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, intensifying the drama surrounding Thunder’s final roster composition.
Victor Oladipo’s journey to the Thunder began in July when he was part of a trade deal with the Miami Heat, with the Thunder acquiring him in exchange for second-round picks in 2029 and 2030.
Oladipo, once a two-time All-Star with the Indiana Pacers, saw his career take an unfortunate turn with injuries, particularly in January 2019.
Indiana eventually traded him to the Houston Rockets in January 2021, and after a brief stint in Houston, he was traded to the Miami Heat just two months later.
Unfortunately, his time with the Heat was marred by recurring injuries, limiting him to just four games in March 2021 before another setback.
During his earlier tenure with the Thunder in the 2016-17 season, Oladipo showcased his talent by averaging 15.9 points per game, leaving fans with high hopes for his future.
However, his journey has since taken him from Orlando to Oklahoma City and eventually to Indiana, with the Thunder now potentially becoming another chapter in his intriguing NBA career.
As the Thunder face the pivotal decision regarding Victor Oladipo’s future with the team, fans are left wondering about the next twist in this captivating saga.