The Miami Heat agreed to acquire Houston Rockets star escort Victor Oladipo just before Thursday’s change deadline, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Although sources told ESPN earlier this week that it was quite possible Houston would switch to Oladipo, teams arrived until 3 pm ET on the deadline before accepting the deal.
In return, the Rockets will get Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk and exchange rights in 2022 first-round picks, sources told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. These exchange rights include choosing Brooklyn, a source told ESPN.
With Oladipo in Miami, the Heat are also expected to emerge as one of the favorites to sign LaMarcus Aldridge once the veteran power forward completes a buyout with the San Antonio Spurs, sources told Wojnarowski.
Aldridge plans to talk to several teams before making a decision, according to Wojnarowski.
Oladipo, 28, is in the final season of a four-year, $ 85 million contract and could become a free agent this summer. He suffered a quadriceps injury in January 2019, but has shown flashes of his old game in performances with Indiana and Houston this season. Oladipo averaged 21.2 points in 20 games with the Rockets, although his efficiency was not optimal.
Oladipo arrived in Houston as part of a four-team change that brought All-NBA baseman James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets. The Rockets offered Oladipo a two-year, $ 45 million contract, the maximum offer they were available to make during the season under the collective bargaining agreement, but Oladipo turned it down, sources said.
Oladipo has averaged 20.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists this season. In his nine-year career, including stops with the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder and Pacers, he has 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists.