Houston Rockets goalkeeper Victor Oladipo recently turned down a two-year contract extension of $ 45.2 million, the most the franchise could offer before the free summer agency, sources told ESPN.
As expected, Oladipo is pursuing a longer-term deal, sources said, which the Collective Bargaining Agreement does not allow the Rockets to offer until the off-season.
Oladipo is in the final year of a $ 85 million four-year deal that leaves the Rockets with decisions to make before the March 25 trading deadline – including whether they will make it available in trade talks. The transition status of the Rockets list makes them likely to listen to the overtures as they continue to know Oladipo – and he knows them – from the mid-January transaction that brought him from Indiana as part of the James Harden blockbuster.
For the Rockets, amid a post-Harden and Russell Westbrook era, there are a number of options with Oladipo, including weighing its market value in the trading period, committing to aggressively pursue a long-term deal in the summer, working with Oladipo on getting value back in the off-season signing and trading talks or letting it go to use the ceiling space for other players in the free agency.
It is common for teams to become more focused on pursuing trades closer to the deadline, which is still just under four weeks away. Houston has yet to engage with teams in trade negotiations involving Oladipo, sources said.
However, Oladipo, 28, has a chance to become one of the best bilateral players available at the time of the deal or the free agency. Miami and New York are among the teams that were interested in Oladipo and both have the maximum salary space to sign him directly in the summer.
Before starting the free agency, Houston would be able to allow it a four-year extension of $ 113 million; Once the free agency comes along, Houston can offer up to four years, $ 151 million, or five years, $ 195 million.
Oladipo has averaged 18.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 13 Rockets games this season. For his nine-year career, including stops with Orlando, Oklahoma City and Indiana, he averaged 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Oladipo also showed the ability to be a top defender.
Bobby Marks, a member of the front office, contributed to the report.