Houston Rockets: Making sense of Victor Oladipo as a Rocket

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 05: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball while defended by James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on November 5, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

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Houston Rockets, Victor Oladipo Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images /

2. Victor Oladipo gives Houston more flexibility

Another positive to bringing Victor Oladipo is that the 6-foot-4 guard is on an expiring contract and will be a free agent in the upcoming offseason. This gives general manager Rafael Stone a lot more flexibility than he would have had if the Rockets held on to Caris LeVert, who is locked up through 2023 and owed a total of just over $36 million over the next two seasons.

If Stone feels like Oladipo is a good fit in Houston, the two can try to work out a long-term extension to keep Oladipo in Houston for the long run.

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But more likely than not Oladipo will either be traded again before the trade deadline or leave Houston in free agency which both would be beneficial for the Rockets.

If the Rockets decide to trade Oladipo before the deadline, Houston will be able to bring in more draft picks and future assets, which paired with the boatload of picks the Rockets received for Harden will create a bright future in Houston.

If the Rockets go the other way and hang on to Oladipo for the remainder of the 2020-21 create and then lose him in free agency, Houston will have enough cap space to dish out a max contract in the offseason if they desire to.

So either way, Oladipo gives the Rockets much more flexibility regarding the future than LeVert would have given them.

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