Houston Rockets: Rich asking price could make Victor Oladipo trade unlikely
The Houston Rockets won’t have any luck trading Victor OIadipo unless they move off their ridiculously high asking price.
With no guarantee that Victor Oladipo would re-sign during the offseason, there’s a growing sense around the league that the Houston Rockets could trade him ahead of this week’s NBA Trade Deadline. However, considering their high asking price a trade for Oladipo could prove to be unlikely.
According to Bleacher Report, the Rockets aren’t just going to trade Oladipo just for the sake of trading him. If he’s moved at this week’s NBA Trade Deadline, it’s going to cost a team. And cost them a good amount.
"Houston is still asking for a first-round pick and then some in any deal for Oladipo, sources said, and the Rockets front office has not expressed much interest in taking back long-term money in exchange for the former All-Star guard. They instead continue to seek younger players on value contracts, or even an additional first-rounder."
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Assuming that this report is indeed accurate, the Rockets are essentially asking for multiple first-round picks or a combination of a young player, or two, and a first-round pick. Considering that Oladipo is slated to be a free agent during the offseason and that he hasn’t played at an all-star level since being dealt to Houston, that’s a pretty outrageous asking price.
One that would suggest perhaps the Rockets isn’t too crazy about trading him. Or that they are valuing Oladipo a bit higher than the rest of the league.
It’d be surprising for any team meets these demands for the Rockets. Then again, this could just be a negotiation tactic by Houston. Start high and then slowly bring the price down to somewhere in the middle. Starting extremely high might be the only way the Rockets will be able to get a young prospect or a first-round pick.
After somewhat of a hot start with the Indiana Pacers, Oladipo has seen a hit in his offensive efficiency. Since joining the Rockets, Oladipo is averaging 21 points and five assists on just 41 percent shooting from the field and a career-worst 32 percent shooting from 3-point range.
It’s difficult – and, frankly, unfair – to try and predict what the Rockets will do in the last few days leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline. One thing is for sure – this team is a long way off from contending in the Western Conference.
Houston has lost 20 games in a row and now has the second-worst record in the NBA, with an 11-30 mark.
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The last thing the Houston Rockets need to do this offseason is to lose Victor Oladipo for nothing in free agency. It might be in the best interest of the team to trade Oladipo this week, but that could be a difficult task to pull off if they don’t move off their outrageously high asking price.