When the Miami Heat acquired Victor Oladipo at the trade deadline, it looked like a win for Miami. It looked like a great move. Oladipo for Avery Bradley, Kelly Olynyk, and a 2022 pick swap. Ask anyone, Miami wins that trade. However, after just four games played for Miami, Oladipo is injured. Instead of another supporting piece to pair with Jimmy Butler, the Heat have another player on the IR.
More Injuries for Victor Oladipo
Since 2019, it has been impossible to talk about Oladipo without bringing up his health. He has not been the same player since the quad injury that had him miss over a year of action. Once he returned, Oladipo missed even more time with knee issues. Now, starting to find his rhythm with his new team, Oladipo has been hit with another ugly injury. He once again has injured his knee. Thankfully, the MRI came back negative. However, there seem to be mixed opinions on the severity of the injury.
The Curious Care of Victor Oladipo
After coming up with a knee injury during Thursday’s win against the Los Angeles Lakers, Oladipo went in for X-Rays and an MRI later in the week. With both tests coming up negative, Oladipo was diagnosed with soreness in his knee. Thankfully, for Oladipo and Heat nation, that sounded like a minor injury. However, it was announced that Oladipo was not traveling with the team on their road trip and would miss the next four games. To be fair, it could be a precautionary move, and a smart one as well. The Heat currently sit at sixth in the Eastern Conference, 2.5 games ahead of the Indiana Pacers in ninth. There’s no point trying to rush Oladipo back and risk further injury. Although, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported that when he asked Head Coach Erik Spoelstra about whether or not Oladipo would return this season, Spoelstra did not provide a direct answer.
What Does This Mean for the Miami Heat?
It makes sense that Spoelstra didn’t want to speculate beyond the four games Oladipo is missing. If he confirmed a date for Oladipo to return, it could have come back to bite him. However, neglecting to comment when given the time frame of the rest of the year is worrisome. While it’s most likely a case of Spoelstra avoiding saying something he may regret, it plants the seed of doubt. Not commenting on the chances of a return in that large of a range makes it seem as though Oladipo could miss even more time going into the postseason. We’ll have to wait and see, but Oladipo’s injury may be more severe than it seems. A potential to be one of those nagging injuries that never really goes away. With KZ Okpala already out, and Tyler Herro questionable, Miami is already struggling with injuries. The prospect of Oladipo missing extended time at a vital part of the season is unnerving. Hopefully, for both Miami and Victor Oladipo, this absence will be a short one.
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