After re-signing with the Heat this week, Victor Oladipo told reporters, including Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel, that he felt during free agency as if teams were hesitant to pursue him too aggressively due to his injury history.
“It kind of seemed like a lot of people were kind of shying away from me,” Oladipo said.
Oladipo didn’t look quite like his old All-Star self following his return to the court near the end of the 2021/22 season, but he showed flashes of that form — and, as Winderman relays, the 30-year-old thinks that was just the beginning.
“I truly believe that I can be better than I was,” Oladipo said. “That may sound crazy to everyone, but I’d rather have that mentality and I can live with the results after that, because I’m going to push myself to be that.
“I think the biggest goal for me is just to show everyone that I’m healthy and I can play a whole year and also to show everyone that I’m one of the best players in this league. So everything else will take care of itself, and that’s what I’m focused on.”
Here’s more on the Heat:
- After restructuring Oladipo’s new contract agreement, the Heat will be able to sign a 14th player to a minimum-salary contract while remaining about $200K below the luxury tax line, Winderman writes in a separate story for The Sun Sentinel. While the team has some options with that 14th roster spot, it could be as simple as re-signing Udonis Haslem, if the veteran big man wants to continue his playing career.
- With limited roster and cap flexibility remaining, the Heat appear content, at least for the time being, to run it back in 2022/23, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. As Chiang notes, besides replacing free agent forward P.J. Tucker with first-round pick Nikola Jovic, Miami’s roster remains essentially unchanged from the end of last season.
- While Javonte Smart and Mychal Mulder currently hold the Heat’s two-way contracts, the team would be open to making a change if one of its camp invitees makes a strong impression, according to Chiang. Undrafted Fresno State big man Orlando Robinson was the first player to sign an Exhibit 10 contract with Miami this offseason, but he likely won’t be the last.
If Oladipo can get the rust off his handles, I actually believe what he said can be true. That was an obvious issue for him, in my opinion, and I actually thought the shot looked slightly better than it previously did. All I care about with him is his defense and playmaking. Everything else is extra
The idea the Heat would be signing 2 players at the 4 is mind boggling, and I dont see any universe where that doesnt happen. Personally wish they wouldnt have signed Jovic, and stashed him for a year b/c that dude just needs to play a lot more basketball, and they have a lot of work to do with him in just being on a court…
Highsmith can maybe fill 1 of the spots I’m talking about, but I would prefer him to be depth at the 3/4 spots.
Not many options left, unless they like someone on someone else’s summer league team as a contributor, or someone gets unexpectedly waived
Options are PAUL MILLSAP, Josh jackson, James Johnson, Semi Ojeleye, trevor ariza, Mamadi Diakite, Robert Woodard II, Justin Champagnie, Kz Okpala, tony snell, DJ Stewart jr, Justin Anderson
Again, thin situation, and they need 2 of these guys (and obviously UD also comes back)
As for their own summer league guys so far, they have a couple of interesting guards, but they dont really need anything in that spot, unless they trade Lowry/Herro. Orlando Robinson could use the development in Sioux Falls. He is interesting offensively, but they have to work with him on stuff defensively, and also help polish his skillset…and also get him in better shape
*the idea they wouldnt be signing…man I feel like some of these posts are just losing whole words now
Heat did not need Dedmon, do not need Duncan. Do need a backup point guard like they did last year and of course going to re sign Haslem come on Pat stop with the ego crap and let’s get another chip!
Jovic for Tucker is a massive upgrade for starters!