NBA Rumors: Latest Buzz on Victor Oladipo, Rockets, Joe Harris Trade
The Houston Rockets said goodbye to a generational talent and franchise staple when they traded James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. But the new regime is hoping Victor Oladipo can take his place.
Houston acquired Oladipo from the Indiana Pacers as part of the revised four-team deal sending "The Beard" to the Nets. The former Pacer made his Rockets debut Monday night against the Chicago Bulls, and head coach Stephen Silas wants Oladipo to be a long-term asset.
Here are the latest rumors regarding Silas' fondness for Oladipo, in addition to P.J. Tucker's future with the Rockets and Nets swingman Joe Harris' place in Harden talks.
Stephen Silas Was Keen on Oladipo
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It would seem Stephen Silas played a role in determining at least some of Houston's return for Harden.
Initially, it was reported Caris LeVert was the player the Rockets were receiving from the Nets. But it was revealed shortly thereafter Houston had flipped LeVert to the Pacers in exchange for Oladipo.
Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic reported Silas' personal opinion of Oladipo as a player was a "key factor in Houston's decision-making process," adding the head coach wants to weigh the 28-year-old's potential as a possible franchise cornerstone.
Oladipo will be a free agent at the end of the season. The Rockets could just as easily attempt to flip him at the trade deadline if things go south, but Silas seems to feel a productive version of Oladipo can help the Rockets remain competitive in the Western Conference going forward.
Whether Oladipo can return to All-NBA form remains to be seen. He scored 32 points on 13-for-23 shooting during Monday's loss to the Bulls, also dishing out nine assists and grabbing five rebounds.
Oladipo has shown the sort of shot-creating ability that made him one of the best combo guards in the league in Indiana. But the Rockets will have to gauge his explosiveness given his return from a torn quad tendon (suffered in January of 2019) is technically still in its nascence.
Nevertheless, Silas seems to feel Oladipo is a vital piece to the organization's future. He certainly could have a big impact in Silas' offensive system if Monday was any indication.
P.J. Tucker Biding His Time
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Whether the Rockets move P.J. Tucker after trading Harden has yet to be determined.
The Athletic reported Houston has received inquiries from a number of teams regarding Tucker's availability. Additionally, Tucker has tabled extension talks. This would seem to suggest Tucker will be traded sooner rather than later. Except, it's not that simple.
Tucker is not opposed to the trade, but he is also willing to play out the remainder of the season with the Rockets, per The Athletic. Perhaps both Houston and Tucker will employ something of a "wait and see" mentality in the coming months.
The Rockets have yet to see what their new-look lineup can all do together, considering John Wall did not play Monday night. Tucker would seem to be invaluable to the team's playoff chances given his defensive toughness and floor-spacing capabilities. Maybe the Rockets would prefer to see where they stand prior to the deadline before making a decision.
Similarly, Tucker could want to gauge Houston's full potential before moving forward on a possible extension. Or, perhaps he feels more suitors will get involved closer to the deadline, possibly giving the veteran forward a better chance to compete for a title in the more immediate sense.
Joe Harris Was Among Nets Untouchables in Harden Talks
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The Nets had a curious third untouchable player in Harden negotiations.
It stands to reason why Brooklyn would hold firm on moving Kyrie Irving or Kevin Durant. But it seems just about everyone else was on the table, except Joe Harris. Iko and Amick reported Harris was off the table in negotiations after Brooklyn signed him to a four-year, $75 million deal this past offseason.
But the contract is unlikely the primary reason the Nets were adamant about keeping Harris. Realistically, the insistence on retaining Harris probably has more to do with his immense importance with Harden joining the team.
Brooklyn now boasts three of the more elite shot-creators in basketball. Harden, Irving and Durant can all go get a bucket at any given moment. However, Harris' presence on the wing makes the Nets all the more dangerous.
Harris is shooting over 51 percent from beyond the arc on 6.1 attempts per game. He only seems to be growing more dangerous as a sniper, just two years after leading the NBA in three-point percentage.
Having a guy like Harris on the floor means opposing defenses have to respect Brooklyn's spacing, thus giving the three stars even more room to operate and exploit individual matchups.
All stats obtained via Basketball Reference, unless otherwise noted.
