Victor Oladipo and Russell Westbrook will be the starting backcourt for the OKC Thunder and we’re about to witness a rate tandem of explosiveness, athleticism and elite perimeter defense.
Sam Presti got away with highway robbery on draft night. The Oklahoma City Thunder general manager essentially traded an expiring contract for an athletic wing, a serviceable stretch 4 and a promising lottery pick.
In the process, Presti did two things: 1) he enhanced Thunder’s chances of retaining Kevin Durant and 2) sowed the seeds for the most explosive, possibly most athletic backcourt in the league.
This isn’t an exaggeration. To the acute observer, Victor Oladipo has a ton of weaknesses. After all, it’s unacceptable for a guard to shoot 34 percent from deep in the modern NBA. But Scott Skiles, Oladipo’s coach in Orlando, knows what his team will be missing next season.
"“He’s a first-team All-Defensive player,” Skiles said of Oladipo last December after the guard single-handedly beat the Portland Trail Blazers with his elite defense down the stretch. “I don’t see any perimeter player playing any better than him on the defensive end in the league right now.”"
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Oladipo, in his third season, finished 12th among 2-guards in Defensive Real Plus/Minus. He finished with a steal rate above 2.0 per cent (one of only six guards in the league), a block rate in excess of 1.5 per cent and a defensive rebound rate above 10.0 percent.
The 24-year-old also led Orlando Magic in two advanced metrics – Defensive Win Shares (2.7) and VORP.
Russell Westbrook. Victor Oladipo. Same backcourt.
— Dan Carson (@TheDoctorCarson) June 24, 2016
Gird your loins.
The former Indiana Hoosier would be a significant upgrade from Andre Roberson and/or Dion Waiters. While Roberson brings perimeter defense and streaky shooting, Waiters brings shooting and so-so defense.
Oladipo has a higher usage rate (22 percent) since he likes to slash to the basket every other possession. But he’s developed into a fine playmaker, averaging 4.3 assists per 36 minutes.
Season Totals (2015-16)
Oladipo: 345 rebounds, 282 assists, 116 steals, 54 blocks in 72 games
Roberson: 251 rebounds, 47 assists, 53 steals, 42 blocks in 70 games
Waiters: 202 rebounds, 154 assists, 81 steals, 15 blocks in 78 games
According to Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops, the Sixers will pursue Philadelphia native Waiters in free agency. A restricted free agent, Waiters could command a salary in excess of $12 million per season.
The Thunder would see no reason to match any offer sheets; they can just let Waiters walk.
Oklahoma City doesn’t need Waiters.
In Russell Westbrook, Roberson and Kevin Durant, their perimeter defense was already elite. Add Victor Oladipo to the mix and they have a quartet of players with length and athleticism – a potential nightmare for jump shooting teams such as Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers.
Westbrook is an underrated defender. The triple-double machine finished the season 12th in Defensive Win Shares and 17th in Defensive Box Plus/Minus (only point guard to crack the top-20). Westbrook did a phenomenal job guarding Tony Parker and Stephen Curry in the playoffs.
A small-ball lineup of Steven Adams (guarding the paint), along with Westbrook, Roberson, Durant and Oladipo should prove to be a handful for the Warriors.
Just picture a pair of freak athletes, Westbrook and Oladipo, slashing to the basket and penetrating defenses. That should make for awesome basketball!
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Victor Oladipo, still on his rookie contract, will be a restricted free agent next summer. If things go according to script, there’s no reason why Oladipo doesn’t find a permanent home in Oklahoma City.