The Knicks are among the teams with interest in Rockets guard Victor Oladipo and will be keeping an eye on him leading up to next month’s trade deadline and potentially beyond, league sources tell A. Sherrod Blakely of Bleacher Report.
Marc Berman of The New York Post reported back in October that the Knicks would likely have trade interest in Oladipo during the 2020 offseason, but later wrote during the first week of free agency that their interest had cooled. At the time, Berman suggested GM Scott Perry was more enthusiastic than president of basketball operations Leon Rose about the idea of acquiring Oladipo.
Much has changed in the two-plus months since that report. For one, Oladipo has already been traded once from the Pacers to the Rockets, though there has been no indication that a long-term deal with Houston is a certainty — the 28-year-old remains on track for free agency this summer.
Oladipo has also looked more like his old self this season after an underwhelming return from a quad tendon injury in 2019/20, boosting his numbers to 20.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game this year after posting just 14.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 2.9 APG last season. If Rose’s reservations were related to Oladipo’s health and his subpar ’19/20 showing, it’s possible some of those concerns have been alleviated.
Within his report, Blakely notes that two league officials he spoke to believe the 9-13 Knicks are more inclined to be a buyer than a seller at this season’s trade deadline, and may try to land a high-scoring guard. Besides Oladipo, Hornets guards Terry Rozier and Devonte’ Graham are worth watching, Blakely says. New York has had interest in Rozier in the past, Graham is in a contract year, and LaMelo Ball looms as Charlotte’s point guard of the future.
Generally speaking, the Knicks would like to acquire young veterans who can help lead the team’s young core while growing along with that core, according to Blakely.
Baffling…….just carry your assets and cap space into FREE agency !
I really want the Knicks to be good- Basketball is better with meaningful games played at MSG. This could all just be hot air to balloon VO value tho/I hope
It’s a facade that “basketball is better with meaningful games at MSG”. However I do agree NYK should not go after VO for what, a 7th seed? But the fact that ppl want to play in NY or want to play at MSG was true in the 90s, but not anymore. Otherwise we would’ve seen superstars want to sign there or force their way there via trade (Carmelo 10 years ago notwithstanding).
Why would a snow flake want to take on the challenge of playing for the most passionate fans in the game under the hottest lights in the sport when they can make the same money playing for a second rate city with no pressure to win? Ah, isn’t communism, I mean the salary cap great.
If they buy instead of sell it’s just more of the Knicks knicking cause they’re not close to a legit contender
The Knicks have acquired enough players that Perry is or was enthusiastic about. Thankfully, Rose is now in charge. He certainly hasn’t chased veteran guys who’s contracts actually have little value to a rebuilding team. At least yet.
Perry needs to go. He’s flunked everywhere he’s gone.
If Knicks make a move it has to be a splash. There is a good supporting cast, now add some bonafide stars. Oladipo helps, as long as his contract doesn’t hamstring you from additional moves. No offense to Terry Rozier…but don’t go sign Terry Rozier.
Unless they can get some significant pieces at the deadline I’d hold off and focus on letting the current team gel, give the young guys some minutes.
That’s my opinion, take it or leave it.
Oladipo free agent after this season, Rozier still under contract for next season
I’m assuming nyk would trade and sign him to a new contract. Guess that’s not a given. And I still wouldnt take Rozier.
Team salary management
Knicks $92 million
Wolves 132 million 15th seed
Rockets 131 million with cost saving program
Pelicans 130 million 14th seed
Tax line 132.6 million
It’s a good idea for Knicks to take good contracts or future picks from these 3 teams
GSW is a nice backup option for Oladipo if they can’t get Beal.
They’re going to pay even more luxury tax just to rent a guy for half a season? Or you expect them to keep him to make up for an aging Clay Thomas? Have some faith in your team strikefour.
Isn’t Clay Thomas a country singer?
GSW could get Beal for a box of crackers
but if Draymond keeps playing like a complete shell of himself it’s not going to make a difference
The Rockets are playing great with Oladipo, so why would they let him go?
They have his bird rights, so only teams with lots of cap space can steal him away.
Why would they sign him. He’s looking good. But not back to pre injury times. Why would Rockets sign another max player now. It’s much better for the franchise to trade him. And move forward with rebuilding and retooling team. I would not trade for him if he wants max money. LaVine is a better deal if he was available. IMO Knicks wild card is Randle. Considering his value is sky high. Especially if he makes all star game. Then we can use him to get back a great young vet. Even in a three way deal. I liked Oladipo before injury. He’s a team player, plays both ways. But was a consistent closer. That player we definitely need, a lot of teams do. He’s not there yet. It’s not a smart move to give him max money. Seems the Knick anxiety is starting to hit the bandwagon media. They’ve been killing us for yrs. So we start winning. And now we are suppose to shoot for the moon. Thibs please relax and stay in your lane. It’s a rebuild. We got 4 picks in the draft. More important to lift Smith, Nttilikina, Knox, RJ, Quickly, Toppin, Payton like we did Randle. And go forward with caution. I still say Randle is the piece that will work for us. Berman has already started to shoot down Toppin in media. He’s all about readership and numbers. He doesn’t care about Knicks or the truth. It’s 20 freakin gms
Because Houston should focus on the futue and Oladipo is not a future star.
One team offers Oladipo $115 million contract in summer
Rockets offer 120 million – compare to Hayward
Rockets 3 guards 90 million next season
Other 12 players gets 2 million contract each to
Reach salary cap
Rockets owner will be outbid by others
It’s all about overbid
Wall contract is huge
Because they need to get their hands on the immeasurable talents of Frank NT? /s
Frank NT is Knicks
Frank TT is Suns
Randle is an all star player now
Its obvious – to save money! They chose a first round pick over Jarret Allen in the Harden trade, because Allen is in a contract year. 1000% your owner is not going into tax next year and if Celts come knocking with a first round pick for Dipo straight up (no salary coming back) Fertita is jumping at that trade.
Any chance the Knicks and Hornets make a deal?
Terry Rozier and Malik Monk for Juilius Randle and Frank Ntilikina.
Knicks add a really nice point guard who actually puts up good numbers. They also get Monk who provides good depth at SG. This move also opens up playing time for Toppin at PF.
Hornets would open a pathway for Ball to start or atleast get more minutes. Plus with Randle they get a all star level player who could make them even better.
That’s a massive overpay for the Knicks. Randle is playing the best ball of his career and is on an expiring contract. He is not the salary dump or attachment that he was last season. Why would NY take back a worse player in Rozier that wasn’t on an expiring unless there were picks attached. And I emphasize the plural form of the word pick there.
I def dont see the trade anywhere near as bad as Hiflew does –
Knicks need a guard, cap rooms nice (ish) but theres not many guards out there next year, Roziers slightly overpaid but its nothing drastic in todays market …Kennard just got over 60 mill over 4 years a month and a half ago
It would obv all depend on NY’s views on Rozier….I think they know Randles future is not there; and really, this year isnt about making playoffs and maybe scratching a lucky win or two
Yeah I understand Hiflew wanting to get back more for Randle who is playing really well. And if you can’t get back a good amount why trade him. But you said it, he’s on an expiring deal and his future probably isn’t with the Knicks.
So trading for Rozier opens up playing time for the future PF of the franchise in Toppin and gives them a good upgrade with Rozier.
Yes he’s overpaid but he’s pretty nice, averaging 18.5-4-3 while giving a lot of minutes to Ball. He could come to NY and put up the same if not better numbers and have a real good opportunity to build value.
I think going from Randle to Rozier is like what you said, going from being a near playoffs team to less wins but you’ll have Rozier running the offence and helping give Barrett, Robinson, Toppin and Knox better looks. Plus he’s not a bad defender and leader which could make a good role model for Quickly.
Maybe the Knicks ask for a 2nd rounder also in return but also going from Ntilikina to Monk your grabbing a small upgrade too. Ntilikina isn’t getting any reps and Mink just dropped a 36 point game.
I agree that his future is likely not with the Knicks, but I still think he is young enough to build around if he continues his upward trend. Randle seems much older, but he is still only 26 and Toppin has not exactly set the world on fire yet. I realize that is virtually meaningless with his career being so new. But stranger things have happened, especially when involving New York Knicks transactions. If they are not convinced that Toppin is as good as his draft status by the end of the year, it wouldn’t shock me to see them try to re-sign Randle. Sure Toppin was a #8 pick, but so was Frank Ntikilina.
You know what else you don’t see. We can trade for one. We can sign one in FA. We can draft one in the lottery or trade up for one. Oladipo is not high on our list. But you keep reading and believing.
If I’m NYK I have more interest in Graham (even tho he’s played like doodoo this year)
Randle is … IDK. I dont know if anyone can even pretend to know his value right now. If he’s legit a 22/12/6 37% 3PT guy know then he’s probably untouchable
But is that what he is?
You got to be kidding why would the knicks trade Randle they have better PG in IQ and Monk stinks keep JR until Toppin proves that he is good enough even then I’ll keep JR
Agreed…Old Man Randle at age 26 is actually entering the prime of his career and seems to be making a bit of a leap as well.
I don’t believe oladipo would mesh well with RJ so I would not trade for him. Tery Rozier is a good pg tough defender but I have question mark about his play making . I would rather the knicks be patient.
Age is a relative thing in the NBA
Oladipo – much like Kemba, Westbrook, et al – is an old 28 year old.
All of these small(er) guards with iffy shots who rely on exceptional athleticism see cliffs on the other side of 30
For that reason, as an NYK fan, I’m out
Totally agree….. its not all about shooting these days but it certainly ages better
I’m not a big fan of Randle, but the Hornets are a team that he could really help. Nobody wants Rozier (except for another bad contract), nor is he really a PG. He’s also on the books next year. Of their young players, I’d be interested in Graham or Bridges. A not too heavily protected 1st would be a good asset too.
Otherwise, even with my doubts about Randle as a long term fit, I’d let things play out. Randle is only optionally expiring (team option), so I wouldn’t fear carrying him into the offseason to trade him if he’s still playing well.
knicks need to be patient, just take it easy and rebuild. we need to develop the young ones. we are not buyers man, we are sellers. wait for the deadline and trade burks, bullock, payton or whoever young vet we have
Yes. Reactionary, big swings is how the Knicks have been bad for almost all of the previous two decades. Stay the course, take it slow, do a proper rebuild.
I think Oladipo being moved in the offseason is about all I agree with, and I’m not 100% that’s the case either.
Knicks should continue the course. No need for sudden moves that decrease chances at cheap future talent, for a modicum of improvement.
Play hard, compete, & appear to have some sort of plan from the FO, and the fans will come.
He’s a free agent once the season is over.
As for Oladipo it’s hard for a team to trade for him cause the Rockets will want a decent return but he’s on an expiring deal and has already publicly said he wants to go to Miami. So even if the Knicks made a move for him and he plays well and settles alright he’s still free to leave.
Otherwise I would’ve though Oladipo for Gary Harris plus extras would’ve been a great idea. Harris is younger, cheaper and could be a piece moving forward for the Rockets without making them that much worse. Meanwhile the Nuggets get a great defender in Oladipo, a clutch shooter and someone who can be handy on offence too
Wait until he becomes a free agent, and then maybe look into a deal, otherwise don’t move any draft assets.
If the Knicks trade for Dipo, they need to fire everyone. The heck would you trade anything for a FA when you’re the Knicks? Sign the man in the offseason.
Fertitta is not maxing out a player coming back from injury. He’s not maxing out anyone. Oladipo wants a max contract. Knicks are not maxing out Oladipo either. So no one is giving up much for an expiring contract. Unless he commits to signing there. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with him. Cause I doubt very much he resigns with Rockets.