NBA Rumors: Victor Oladipo could return sooner than expected for the Miami Heat.
Heading into the 2021-22 NBA season, the Miami Heat are expecting a significant jump from Bam Adebayo and a few of their other young players on the roster. It’s the one thing that will help Miami jump into contender status in the Eastern Conference.
That and the potential for a return to form from Victor Oladipo.
However, after another quad injury, the expectation was that Oladipo would probably return closer to the middle of the season rather than at the start of it. Though, according to a recent report (via ESPN, subscription required), there’s a chance that Oladipo could return as early as November.
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Victor OIadipo could be a huge x-factor for the Miami Heat
If Oladipo is making a return to the lineup that soon, and depending on how healthy he looks and will be, there’s a good chance that many rethink their assessments on what the Heat can be this season.
Even though the acquisitions of Kyle Lowry, PJ Tucker, and Markieff Morris should help this team take a step forward this season, it’s the marginal improvement of the “others” that will help catapult this team to contender status.
Oladipo is part of that. Though he may never reach his form all-star status again, he’s still a good enough of a player that he could play an integral role for the Heat. During his short time with Heat this past season, Oladipo gave this team an element that they otherwise didn’t have.
Oladipo can be a good defender on one end and an above-average playmaker/spot-up shooter on the other. He also gives the backcourt another level of athleticism that they simply don’t have at the moment.
For as good as Tyler Herro is as a prospect, there are things that Oladipo can do that he can’t do on the floor. And that will prove to be valuable if he’s healthy this season.
If the Heat is going to take another step into contender status this season, it will largely be due to the likes of Oladipo, Herro, or another young player on the roster taking a step forward. For the most part, the Heat knows what it’s getting from Lowry, Jimmy Butler, and Bam.
A resurgence from Oladipo, however, could really be the ultimate game-changer for Miami heading into the 2021-22 season.