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Oklahoma City Thunder: Victor Oladipo can take mid-level team to next level

By Albert Dadson

Jan 25, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard E'Twaun Moore (55) drives past Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo (5) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Thunder defeated the Pelicans 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard E'Twaun Moore (55) drives past Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo (5) during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. The Thunder defeated the Pelicans 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Victor Oladipo can take the Oklahoma City Thunder to new heights if he taps into the potential that he displayed in college.

At Indiana, Victor Oladipo was easily the best player for the Hoosiers. His potential and skill got him drafted second overall in the 2013 NBA Draft. In a draft that had Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nerlens Noel, C.J. McCollum, Otto Porter, Dennis Schroder, Kelly Olynyk and his soon-to-be teammates Steven Adams and Andre Roberson, Oladipo was drafted above them all and he has not turned into the player that many thought he would be.

To be drafted second overall the talent has to be there but it has just not come out. Oladipo has to become better with shooting the ball and he also has to score more in transition. He has to have a focused effort on pushing the ball up the floor. Russell Westbrook is the primary ball handler but Oladipo can be more aware of the defense to offense transition and then he can make an effort to run up the court.

When the ball is in Westbrook’s hands he has to be able to find a way to get open and make plays with the ball in his hands also. Oladipo will have to study more game tape of players that are dominant players like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan to learn how to take over a game the right way.

If Oladipo studies more on the mental aspect of the game that will make him that much faster. Talking to Westbrook will help also. Having a top five player in the NBA on your team can work to your advantage if you study their moves and even how to prepare for the game.

Improving his perimeter shot is paramount for Oladipo, which could very well just come down to repetition. Attacking his work regimen with the fervor of a Kobe or an MJ could help change everything, from how he looks at basketball to having a winner’s mentality.

For the 2016-17 season, Oladipo only averaged 15.9 points per game. He went from 13.8 points his rookie year to 17.9 points his second year. That 17.9 is his best year and he has been declining ever since. He has to get his numbers up if he wants to become the star that he can be, especially with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where Westbrook so badly needs another star.

He will have to average about 22 or 23 points a game next year to be able to become a true second threat for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Westbrook will average his 27+ a game but if Oladipo can add another mid 20-point average to the team then that will make the team relevant again.

Oladipo was traded to the Thunder from the Orlando Magic. The Magic, who originally drafted Oladipo, decided to move on after three years. The third year is the make or break year for a new player and he did not show them what they needed to see.

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    • Oladipo was supposed to be the shooting guard that the Thunder needed but when Kevin Durant left that put a damper on their plans. Oladipo did not take advantage this past season of Durant’s absence, but he has another year to try and show he can be what his draft position suggested.

    Oladipo is reminiscent of Evan Turner, who was also a second overall pick. Turner had the city of Philadelphia on his back and the organization thought he was the safest pick but after his rookie year the fans turned on him and the team realized they were wrong. Turner won every major award in college including the Wooden award and it seemed like picking him was the right choice for the Philadelphia 76ers. That was not the case.

    Oladipo’s book hasn’t been completed yet and he is more of a factor on his team than Turner is on the Portland Trail Blazers, but it is starting to look like his ceiling is similarly lower than once projected.

    Oladipo averages 15.9 points for his career and Turner averages 10.5 per game, but the similarities are too blatant to ignore. The Thunder will have to work with him more than anybody else and they will have to make it known to him that there is more pressure on himself to perform. This season will tell a lot for the Thunder and their future with Oladipo.

    OKC has a slim chance to get help for Westbrook during free agency thanks to their salary cap situation, but finding a small forward to replace Durant will still be an issue. Carmelo Anthony and Paul George look like they will be traded from their team so they are some options also. Anthony plays for the New York Knicks and Knick’s president Phil Jackson says that Anthony should be on another team, so that means that Anthony is more than likely on the trading block this offseason.

    George plays on the Indiana Pacers and he is the more attractive person to go after because he is younger at 26 (Anthony is 32) and he can be a vital piece for the Thunder for years to come. George has been drawing attention from the Los Angeles Lakers but the case for the Thunder is the fact that they have a more win-now team and another top-five player in Westbrook.

    The help from these players that would take the load off of Oladipo, but if he can improve and if the Thunder can acquire one of those free agents then the Thunder will go from having a one man army to having a Big Three.

    Next: 5 potential landing spots for Blake Griffin in free agency

    Oladipo can have success in this league because he has the talent. It is just him being able to channel it from within and to maintain it for 82 games.

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