Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo recently turned down a two-year, $ 45.2 million maximum contract extension, the maximum the franchise could offer him before the free summer agency, sources said. on ESPN.
As expected, Oladipo is pursuing a long-term deal, sources said, something the Collective Bargaining Agreement does not allow the Rockets to offer him until the low season.
Oladipo has the final year of a four-year, $ 85 million contract, leaving the Rockets with the decisions they make before the March 25 trade deadline, including whether they will make it available in trade talks. The transition state on the Rockets ’roster makes it likely they’ll hear openings as they continue to know Oladipo — and he knows them — from the mid-January trade that brought him from Indiana as part of the James Harden blockbuster.
For the Rockets, in the midst of a post-Harden and Russell Westbrook era, there are a number of options with Oladipo, such as weighing their market value in the trade term, committing to aggressively pursuing a long-term deal summer, working with Oladipo to regain value in signing and exchange talks in low season or letting him walk to use the limit of other free agency players.
It is normal for teams to be more focused on performing trades closer to the deadline, which is still just under four weeks away. Houston has yet to collaborate with teams in trade talks involving Oladipo, sources said.
Still, Oladipo, 28, has a chance to become one of the best two-way players available within the negotiation deadline or the free agency. Miami and New York are among the teams that have had an interest in Oladipo and both have the salary cap to sign him directly in the summer.
Before starting the free agency, Houston would be able to afford a four-year, $ 113 million extension; once the free agency arrives, Houston can offer up to four years, $ 151 million, or five years, $ 195 million.
Oladipo has averaged 18.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 13 games with the Rockets this season. During his nine-year career, including stops in Orlando, Oklahoma City and Indiana, he has averaged 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Oladipo has also shown his ability to be the top defender.
Bobby Marks, a member of the front office, contributed to this report.