Philadelphia 76ers: Victor Oladipo is most attainable star guard

The rumor mill has no shortage of guard talent, but no All-Star guards feel more gettable than Victor Oladipo.

The Indiana Pacers face a difficult decision this offseason: trade Victor Oladipo, or risk letting him walk in 2021. While Oladipo denied rumors of a trade request, the 28-year-old has made it clear he wants hardware. Frankly, Indiana is not best positioned to give him that opportunity.

Enter the Philadelphia 76ers, who are expected to slam the trade market in wake of a comically disastrous 2019-20 season. While making substantial moves will be difficult, the Sixers have already been looped into the Chris Paul rumor mill. That would suggest high ambitions in the front office.

If the Sixers strike out on Chris Paul, and if other high-profile trade targets prove unattainable — think Jrue Holiday — then Oladipo seems like a logical conclusion. The Sixers would have competition. The Lakers, Nets, Bucks, and Heat could all look to add more firepower. Even so, the Sixers might have enough to tempt Indiana.

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What separates Oladipo from CP3 and Holiday, for example, is that Philadelphia can trade for him without including Al Horford or Tobias Harris. A package involving Josh Richardson, Mike Scott, and Zhaire Smith (or, more reluctantly, Matisse Thybulle) matches salary-wise. In those other hypotheticals, the Sixers would need to convince their counterparts to absorb one of the NBA’s worst contracts.

Richardson is a talented two-way wing in the prime of his career. The Pacers still have a playoff team without Oladipo, and while Richardson isn’t the same offensive player, he does fill Oladipo’s shoes on defense. Next to capable perimeter creators a la Malcolm Brogdon and T.J. Warren, Richardson would probably see an uptick in production compared to his first (and possibly last) season in Philadelphia.

Oladipo spent most of last season recovering from a ruptured quad, and he has only played 55 games over the past two seasons. As a result, the Pacers may wait until the trade deadline to jettison Oladipo. A strong first half would dramatically improve his trade value. If Indiana does decide to move on, the Sixers would be wise to buy low. Before his injuries, Oladipo was a two-time All-Star who took LeBron James’ Cavaliers to seven games.

Both Richardson and Oladipo are on expiring contracts. While Richardson has fewer injury concerns, Oladipo raises the Sixers’ ceiling in a way Richardson never will. He’s a more decisive scorer, a legitimate creator in the halfcourt, and a former All-Defense honoree.

Odds are, the Sixers couldn’t keep either of them beyond next season. Philadelphia simply has too much money on the books. It’s natural to question whether the Sixers should siphon away assets for someone they can’t keep, but if the price is reasonable, then Oladipo could be worth the swing.

The Pacers are on the verge of a new chapter. Oladipo wants hardware. The Sixers, if nothing else, have shown they are willing to spend money in order to win. Oladipo is a risky, possibly expensive bet. But if the Sixers want him, he’s certainly not out of the picture.