NY Knicks: 3 possible competitors for Victor Oladipo

Knicks Rumors: Oladipo forces his way to Miami, spurns NY Knicks

The worst kept secret in all of this is that Oladipo wants to end up in Miami. Meaning regardless of what happens at the trade deadline, he could still make his way to South Beach in the offseason.

Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel noted the clear interest Oladipo has in Miami and wrote back in January:

"“Victor Oladipo, acquired in the Harden deal by the Rockets and an impending free agent, is known to have a strong interest in the Heat, and there appears to be mutual interest from the Heat.”"

Brian Windhorst of ESPN fanned the flames of the Oladipo-Miami connection a week ago when he was on The Hoop Collective and said:

"“I don’t think it’s any secret in the league Victor has a desire to play in Miami, He’d like to go there in free agency. They’re going to have cap space, so that may happen.”"

So what are we supposed to make of all of the speculations? As it stands right now, the Miami Heat would be much more of a threat to sign Oladipo in the offseason than make a move at the trade deadline. The Heat don’t have a lot of draft capital, and if you’re looking at the young talent the Rockets may want in return (Tyler Herro), I don’t see the Heat giving him up in an Oladipo trade.

Oladipo would give the Heat some much-needed depth and playmaking on the perimeter. Oladipo and Jimmy Butler playing side-by-side would give the team a lethal tandem of 2-way perimeter players.

It’s really hard to make a trade seem reasonable without including Herro, but perhaps the Heat would center it around 2nd-year guard Kendrick Nunn. A package around Nunn, Kelly Olynyk, and a future 2nd round pick might get it done, but I don’t see an Oladipo trade happening at the deadline between these two teams. With that being said, keep your eye on this situation in the offseason.