Report: Victor Oladipo Seeking a Max Deal

The Orlando Magic sent Victor Oladipo to OKC in exchange for center Serge Ibaka this summer, and the 24-year-old guard is said to be eyeing max dollars.

Oladipo averaged 16 points last season, and with Kevin Durant no longer in the picture, the Thunder will be counting heavily on his offensive production.

Will they pay him accordingly, though?

Per ESPN:

(Nikola) Vucevic’s shooting makes him a more adaptable player, and if the minutes-juggling upsets someone, the Magic should explore trades. They need another reliable wing to flank (Evan) Fournier and (Mario) Hezonja; with Jodie Meeks’ future unclear, they are one injury away from disaster. It’s hard right now to trade bigs for wings and receive equal value — one reason Sam Presti, the Thunder GM, was smart to flip Ibaka for Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis.

 

Shedding one big salary would also give Orlando wiggle room to upgrade in free agency over the next two summers. They will have cap space next July as long as Ibaka’s smallish cap hold is on the books, but things get tight — like, luxury tax-level tight — if they bring him back at the max, keep all their core guys, and sign one decent free agent.

 

The money crunch hits every team that spends a half-decade in the lottery. Great prospects get expensive once their rookie deals expire; you eventually have to shed someone. Utah is staring down this dilemma, and the Magic have already addressed it by dealing Harris, Harkless, and Oladipo — with the latter up for a mega-extension, and (for now) seeking the maximum salary, sources say.