Victor Oladipo Trade Rumors: Bucks Haven't Had Serious Talks; Knicks Linked

The Milwaukee Bucks have Victor Oladipo on their list of possible trade targets but haven't yet staged "substantive talks" with the Indiana Pacers, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe.

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor reported Oct. 28 the two sides "have talked" about a deal but didn't specify how extensive the discussions were.

Lowe added that the New York Knicks had shown an interest in Oladipo but might have adopted a "wait and watch" mindset.

Losing to the Miami Heat in five games in the Eastern Conference semifinals laid bare how badly the Bucks have to address their supporting cast behind Giannis Antetokounmpo in order to make a run to the NBA Finals.

Milwaukee doesn't need to do something as significant as the Los Angeles Lakers acquiring Anthony Davis or the Clippers adding Paul George, but reinforcements are clearly required.

During his 2018 and 2019 All-Star seasons, Oladipo was a dynamic scorer and playmaker. The ability he showed to create his own shot is exactly what the Bucks need for when opponents throw multiple defenders at Antetokounmpo.

The Knicks obviously aren't on the same timeline as the Bucks, but the 28-year-old is the kind of star around whom they can build a contender.

Oladipo's performance in 2019-20 raised questions about his value going forward, though. He averaged 14.5 points and shot 39.4 percent from the floor in 19 regular-season games. His field-goal percentage (39.4) was nearly identical in the playoffs (39.3), while his scoring average climbed slightly to 17.8 points.

Some rust was to be expected after he was out for a calendar year, and the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted his continued recovery.

Still, Oladipo is entering the final year of his contract. Because of those general doubts, signing him to a max deal doesn't make a ton of sense, raising the possibility of a team parting with valuable trade assets and only getting one season of Oladipo on the roster.

And Oladipo's injury has probably done little to lower Indiana's demands because he's the face of the franchise—at least until he explicitly says he's not going to re-sign.