NBA free agency: The 5 biggest steals so far this offseason
By Dan Bennett
NBA free agency biggest steals: 1. Victor Oladipo
After a disappointing end to last season which saw the team get swept in the playoffs by the Milwaukee Bucks, the Miami Heat made moves to boost its chances of repeating its run to the finals in the Orlando bubble. Veteran point guard Kyle Lowry has arrived in South Beach along with PJ Tucker and Markieff Morris, while Victor Oladipo has returned to the Heat on a one-year veteran minimum deal.
Oladipo has found his time on the court limited in recent seasons due to various injury problems, including last year when he only played four games for Miami due to needing surgery to repair his quadriceps tendon. But while his inability to stay healthy is no doubt a concern, bringing him back on a low-risk deal was well worth it.
It wasn’t that long ago that Oladipo was one of the best two-way guards in the league, and while he has not been able to get near his career-best 2017-18 season for the Indiana Pacers, there were some signs of encouragement during his time in Houston when he averaged 21.2 points over 20 games.
He might never get near his best again, but on a minimum deal, Oladipo has the potential to provide incredible value for money. Miami has built a team full of guys with reputations for playing hard on both ends of the court and Oladipo is no different. He fits perfectly with the culture the team has built and can be a valuable player next season.