Thursday, March 25th marked the trade deadline for the 2021 NBA season. As like most other trade deadlines, multiple big names were relocated to their new teams. This year’s headline was none other than Victor Oladipo. After being involved in a three team trade that sent Oladipo to the Rockets back in January, he was shipped to Miami 2 months later. The Houston Rockets, in the midst of a 20 game losing streak. decided they’d had enough of the 28 year old shooting guard, trading him to the Miami Heat for Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, and swapped 2022 first round picks. Although surprising to some, this move didn’t come out of the blue. There had been reports during Oladipo’s time in Indiana that his end goal destination was Miami, and when he was initially traded to the Rockets, more reports were published announcing Victor’s time in Houston may be short lived. With it being publicly known Oladipo wanted out, the small package in return makes sense, with the Rockets not having much leverage around the league.

This will be the ex-Hoosier’s 5th team since 2015, 3rd in two months, leading some to believe the teams aren’t the problem. In a post-game interview shortly after the January trade, Oladipo said, “It’s unfortunate going through my career, it just feels like people kind of keep quitting on me, but it’s a part of life and I embrace it”. This statement didn’t make too many Pacer fans happy, the same fans who did nothing but support him throughout his extensive rehab process and packed the house for his return to action. Coming from IU, there was already a soft spot for Oladipo in Pacers fans’ hearts, quickly becoming a fan favorite. For a time, Indianapolis was his city. It’s starting to become more and more clear that teams aren’t quitting on Vic, he’s quitting on them.

Now that Oladipo is “home”, we’ll have to see if his attitude and perception of front offices comes to change. Fans have to imagine that Oladipo is finally happy, Miami fans saying that it will bring the best out of him. Delaying his Miami debut because of a head cold, Victor’s first game back is set to be back home in the 317 versus the Indiana Pacers on March 31st. The boo-birds will be on full display, this marking Oladipo’s first time back to Bankers Life Fieldhouse in an opposing uniform since his days with the Pacers.