Milwaukee Bucks Rumors: A potential Victor Oladipo trade destination?

The Milwaukee Bucks are expected to be players in the trade market this offseason, but could they potentially pursue a Victor Oladipo deal?

We’re far off from seeing any sort of deals come to fruition, but the Milwaukee Bucks will be in the thick of this offseason’s trade market by all accounts.

Whether it’s been Bogdan Bogdanovic or Chris Paul, the Bucks have been credibly linked to some intriguing names and options that would surely address their biggest offseason needs, that being improving upon their playmaking and shooting and their overall guard play.

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There’s no question more links to potential guard upgrades will continue and that could include one of the biggest trade candidates in Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo.

In his latest episode of ‘The Lowe Post’ with The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, ESPN’s Zach Lowe mentions the Bucks as a team to monitor when it comes to Oladipo’s situation this offseason:

"“I’ll give you a team I’m keeping my eye on with Victor Oladipo: Milwaukee. Just keeping my eye on them.”"

Now the context in which Lowe speculates the Bucks as a team to watch in a potential Oladipo destination comes in a podcast that is focused on fake trade ideas and looking at the biggest teams that have major work to do this offseason. The Bucks certainly fit the bill in that regard.

So while there’s no official report linking the Bucks to Oladipo and it comes from Lowe purely speculating on this idea, there’s a few things to consider why a Bucks-Oladipo trade may eventually be in the cards.

No potential trade candidate this offseason offers the highest risk and the highest reward than Oladipo and the Milwaukee Bucks are all in for the 2021 NBA season.

There’s a question as to what kind of value Oladipo holds around the league as he heads into the final year of his four year, $85 million contract next season. That’s certainly made complicated by Oladipo’s return since his ruptured quad tendon injury back in January earlier this year and the strides he has to continue making in his road to recovery and hitting his All-NBA ceiling that he showed back in the 2017-18 season.

As trade rumors have continued to surge around the 28-year-old this offseason and Oladipo did a half-hearted attempt to shoot down those rumors earlier this month, Oladipo’s future in Indianapolis is a major question mark. Especially as he’s looking for a max contract extension for his next deal, per Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.

For all of the reasons listed above, it’s very possible the Pacers and Oladipo have as close to an amicable divorce this offseason. But as ESPN’s Tim Bontemps wrote on Monday, the Pacers won’t just move Oladipo for any deal that comes below his value. Could the Bucks look to swoop in and try to make a play for Oladipo as his value around the league has diminished over time?

The Bucks have certainly capitalized on a similar set of circumstances like when they made the trade for Eric Bledsoe nearly three years ago and they can certainly absorb Oladipo’s $21 million salary better than in the case of Paul, for example. The fact that Oladipo is extension-eligible this offseason is an interesting maneuver to consider in trying to secure his services long-term too.

But the overarching concerns surrounding Oladipo’s injury situation and what caliber of player he will be moving forward makes any deal for the veteran guard a tough proposition under any scenario. Likewise, will the Bucks seriously explore an Oladipo deal as the pressure to win it all climbs at an all-time high as they try to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to stay long-term in Milwaukee?

There are no answers on this front just yet, but we’ll certainly stay tuned to any developments on the trade market and who the Bucks will be linked to over the offseason. Meanwhile, explore the advantages and concerns of exploring an Oladipo trade in the coming days.