Odds Favor Victor Oladipo Playing for Pacers Next Season Despite Rumors of All-Star Guard Wanting Out of Indiana

• The Indiana Pacers are listed as the +175 favorites to retain all-star guard Victor Oladipo
• Speculation is currently suggesting that Oladipo wants out of Indiana
• See odds for all teams available to land the service of the two-time All-Star next season

Reports are speculating that Victor Oladipo wants out of Indiana. The sportsbooks, though, are laying odds that Oladipo will remain with the Pacers.

Published reports indicate that Oladipo wants to be traded by the Pacers. However, the betting odds are listing the Pacers as the +175 favorites to still be Oladipo’s team at the start of the 2020-21 NBA season.

Odds on Where Victor Oladipo Will Play Next NBA Season

Odds as of Sept. 29th

The Pacers recently fired head coach Nate McMillan after being swept out of the playoffs by the Miami Heat.

Pacers Change of Pace

Oladipo is entering the last year of his contract prior to becoming a free agent. This situation is similar to when Anthony Davis informed the New Orleans Pelicans he wanted out a year prior to his opportunity to become a free agent.

It’s as if Oladipo is giving Indiana a heads up to move him now while they can still get something for him because in a year, he’ll be departing for free.

Victor Oladipo is "looking to move on" from the Pacers this offseason, per @JaredWeissNBA pic.twitter.com/c2PWVbmaOT

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 28, 2020

There’s definitely been a 180 degree change of direction taking place with the Pacers. McMillan was signed to a contract extension just prior to the NBA playoffs. But when the Pacers were swept by the Miami Heat, McMillan was fired.

Oladipo and the Pacers briefly discussed a contract extension prior to the start of this season but nothing came of the talks.

Moving Oladipo Could Prove a Tough Sell

Oladipo is a past All-Star. His stock has certainly risen since his 2017 move from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Pacers. He averaged a career-high 23.1 points per game that first season in Indiana.

Injuries, though, limited Oladipo to 36 games in 2018-19 and only 19 games this season. By the time the NBA season resumed in the Orlando bubble, Oladipo was often the third guard in the Indiana rotation after Malcolm Brogdon and TJ Warren.

Victor Oladipo's game was VERY dependent on athleticism pre-injury.

– Ruptured quad tendon in knee
– Sat out a full 12 months
– Was actively a negative in the regular season + playoffs upon return
– Is on a $21M expiring deal

That is not an asset worth trading the #1 pick for.

— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) September 28, 2020

He’ll also earn $21 million next season in the last year of his deal. That’s a hefty contract to move, especially for someone whose numbers are trending in the wrong direction.

Oladipo averaged 18.8 PPG in 2018-19 and 14.5 PPG this season.

Possible Destinations

According to reports, Oladipo’s desired destination is the Miami Heat. The Heat certainly possess the assets to make such a deal happen. However, they’ve just won the Eastern Conference with a young team and are in the NBA Finals. What incentive would there be for Miami to make such a roster-altering move?

Like Indiana, the Philadelphia 76ers are a team about to embark upon a cultural change. They’re likely looking to shake up the status quo.

According to @ScoopB, the Lakers, Knicks, Mavs, Suns, Raptors, Nets, and Timberwolves are reportedly interested in Victor Oladipo.

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) September 29, 2020

Depending upon what happens with free-agent guard Fred VanVleet, the Toronto Raptors could be a player in the Oladipo sweepstakes. If VanVleet leaves, Oladipo would pair nicely with Kyle Lowry in the Toronto backcourt.

The Dallas Mavericks are reportedly in the market for a third big piece to add to Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. A healthy Oladipo could give Dallas a trio of stars to match up with any of the Western Conference powers.

For this curious what was said about Oladipo and Turner from Jared Weiss in The Athletic. https://t.co/T09vc26G1W pic.twitter.com/AselvpmKW2

— Alex Golden (@AlexGoldenNBA) September 28, 2020

The move that makes the most sense, though, is Oladipo to the Boston Celtics for Gordon Hayward. Both teams get to move on from their injury-prone stars.

Indianapolis is Hayward’s birthplace, so it’s a homecoming for him. And after losing the East final to the Heat, it’s clear that the Celtics still require another piece to their puzzle.

Pick: Boston Celtics (+350).