The Pacers have a top talent themselves that will be hitting the free agency market in 2021. As long as the injury status holds up for the former Thunder and Orlando Magic star shooting guard Victor Oladipo, he’ll be a premier free agency target for a team like the Chicago Bulls to start contending with if LaVine doesn’t work out.
Even if LaVine turns out to be a star for the Bulls, Oladipo could come in and formulate a top backcourt in the East. The 6-foot-6 LaVine would combine with the 6-foot-4 Oladipo to space the floor and bring more athleticism to the table than any other team in the East in all likelihood.
Entering the 2019-20 season, Oladipo is on a pretty good value contract for the Pacers. He’s paid only $21 million per year until he becomes an unrestricted free agent in two summers. Whatever teams lands Oladipo in 2021, they will be trying to recapture the magic he had in 2017-18. He was an All-Star that averaged 23.1 points per game, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.4 steals.
Most of the numbers Oladipo posted with the Pacers in 2017-18 were career-highs. He’ll be returning from his torn quad injury in the middle of the 2019-20 regular season. If he returns to that same level of production entering his prime years, he’ll be an even more highly sought after free agent in the coming offseasons.