Odds on Team Most Likely to Acquire Victor Oladipo Favor Dallas Mavericks

• Pacers guard Victor Oladipo has reportedly requested a trade
• The Dallas Mavericks lead a host of teams interested in landing the 2018 Most Improved Player
• Read below to see where we think the talented guard will end up next season

It appears there’s a full-on breakup going on in Indy. Complete with drama.

We’ll get to that in a second, but Victor Oladipo’s saga sets up another talented star player potentially moving in the offseason, joining some other reported stars uncertain in their current situation.

Suddenly, as is the norm now in today’s NBA, there’s bound to be some action and arms racing as teams jockey in the 2021 NBA Championship odds.

Bookmakers have the Dallas Mavericks first in line to scoop ‘Dipo up.

Victor Oladipo Trade Destination Odds

Odds from November 13

Just three short seasons ago, Oladipo was on the podium after Indiana’s Game 7 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers that eliminated them in the first round of the playoffs. He gave an epic and respect-earning session as the new and exciting face of the Pacers franchise.

If he’s motivated and fully recovered from injury, let’s guess his next destination.

Oladipo really texted his trainer less than 20 minutes after Game 7 ended. pic.twitter.com/0YUDfB1Ecm

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 29, 2018

Star – Sidelined – Salty

After his breakout year in 2018, where he averaged a career-best 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and league-leading 2.4 steals a game, Oladipo suffered a serious quad injury before the all-star break.

Victor Oladipo is wild 😳

(Via @ThisIsJMichael ) pic.twitter.com/TsotTKedp1

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) November 12, 2020

That injury sidelined him through that season and into the current year, where he played just 19 games, and was largely ineffective as the team slowly tried to work him back into the form that earned him NBA Most Improved Player in 2018.

The team also shifted priorities, building their offense around newly acquired Malcolm Brogdon.

He averaged a career-low 27.1 minutes a game and provided minimal impact as the Heat swept them in the first round of the playoffs. Oladipo averaged 17.8 points on 39.3% shooting from the field.

Victor Oladipo’s sister and Myles Turner 👀 pic.twitter.com/RQm3EdSbNL

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) November 12, 2020

He recently asked for a trade, and soon a story came out alleging Oladipo was actively pursuing opportunities with other teams – in front of teammates. The teams listed were the Heat, Raptors and, get this: the New York Knicks.

Extra drama soon followed, with VO’s sister going onto Twitter alleging that teammates were spouting false stories to the media. When a reply suggested it was teammate Myles Turner, she didn’t hold back. Turner wasn’t impressed.

Now? Apparently Oladipo’s back on board the Pacers’ train.

Victor Oladipo says he's fully committed to the Pacers. pic.twitter.com/Uf2LGqF7Ro

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 13, 2020

Who Values Victor?

I know it’s getting repetitive, but when a talented player sulks his way out of town, we automatically think that that person cares so much about winning that they’re built for the Miami Heat culture. Oladipo could very well end up there, as the Heat could lose veteran Goran Dragic.

Pairing up another offensive player with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, with a plethora of vets and young shooters dotting the roster is scary intriguing. But that might cost them Tyler Herro, and I think he’s only going for a big fish (think Giannis).

Knicks, Suns, Raptors, Nets, Heat & Timberwolves all have interest in Indiana Pacers guard, Victor Oladipo.

Timberwolves’ No. 1 overall pick in 2020 NBA draft not in play, I’m hearing. pic.twitter.com/XE2acd7q27

— 👑📍Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson (@ScoopB) August 31, 2020

There’s a reason Dallas is the betting favorite. Besides LeBron James and perhaps the Golden State Warriors, there’s probably no other star you’d want to latch onto than Luka Doncic.

He’s coming off an all-NBA second season, and giving Luka an elite offensive option could unlock an already frisky Mavericks roster into a juggernaut.

The Mavericks have shown interest in trading for either Zach LaVine, Victor Oladipo, or Spencer Dinwiddie to pair with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, reports @KevinOConnorNBA.

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 12, 2020

At the bottom of that board are intriguing choices. Toronto is another one of the teams Oladipo apparently talked to, and their roster is ready-built for a star to step in and be their go-to player. A three-headed guard unit of Lowry, VanVleet and Oladipo would be hard to contain in crunch time. And Daryl Morey is sure to want his stamp on the 76ers roster.

For Oladipo’s sake, let’s hope the Knicks don’t come calling.

Best Bet?

There might not be a better candidate to target and upgrade your roster talent than Oladipo, because he checks so many boxes. He’s in the final year of his deal at an all-star potential friendly figure of $21 million. That’s more than enough to take a flyer on the two-time all-star.

At 28, a great season can prop him up for a mega deal, and re-establish him as one of the top guards in the game. In the drive-and-kick style that is the NBA, a dude with the combo guard skills and the ability to handle, initiate offense and also play off-the-ball is a valuable commodity.

This is a toss-up, but the Mavericks should be able to find a way to bring Oladipo to Big D. If you have a little scratch left over, check the 76ers of Heat.