Victor Oladipo's stint in Houston has been interesting.
The way he arrived was interesting. He came over in a big trade following a massive trade, as the Nets acquired James Harden from the Rockets for Caris LeVert and several other pieces, and LeVert was subsequently sent to Indiana in exchange for Oladipo. And his reported attitude upon arrival was interesting, too, given that he didn't want to stay very long.
The team's success since his arrival has been interesting. They're on a six-game winning streak as we speak, and are posting historic defensive numbers in the process.
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And his future is interesting, too. For as well as he's played in Houston — he's averaging 21.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game — the trade buzz won't leave him alone, whether or not it remains his desire to move on from the Rockets. The latest report connects him with the New York Knicks among other teams.
Bleacher Report's A. Sherrod Blakely writes that the Knicks' success has come in large part due to Julius Randle, presenting an interesting dilemma to their front office. They can either sell high on Randle, given that their preseason expectations were low and that they're largely seen as a rebuilding franchise. Alternatively, they could ride the wave of success that Randle's strong play has brought the team and look to improve upon their 9-13 start by bringing in a guard with scoring chops and winning experience.
Sound like anyone you might know?
That's where Oladipo comes into play, and Blakely says that the Knicks "will be closely monitoring the impending free agent's play leading up to the deadline and beyond." Blakely also adds Terry Rozier and Devonte' Graham, both of the Charlotte Hornets, as names to watch for the Knicks. All fit the bill as guards with high-scoring capabilities, though the contrast between Oladipo and Graham is pretty stark in many aspects.
When Oladipo was reportedly growing unhappy in Indiana, Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson reported that the Knicks were among the interested teams, so he's been in the front office's sights in previous years.
The Knicks are currently 11th in the East, but with teams like the Hornets, Cavaliers and Bulls occupying spots ahead of them, an eighth seed certainly seems within reach should they add another legitimate threat and supply Julius Randle with another 20-ppg threat.
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