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How should Indiana handle Victor Oladipo’s status?

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If Oladipo gets back to his old self, he could be a swing piece that elevates a contender—a legitimate three-level scorer, a capable pick-and-roll ball facilitator, and a hard-nosed perimeter defender who can lock down top options and wreck game plans. That guy’s worth mortgaging future pieces to elevate your existing core. But if he’s not that guy to the degree he was during that one magical season—and, it’s worth noting, only during that one season—then how can a would-be contender feel confident bundling its best assets for him? Given what we have (and haven’t) seen over the past two years, why would the Nets give up Caris LeVert, who might just straight up be a better player right now, for Oladipo? Why would the Heat give up Tyler Herro, nearly eight years Oladipo’s junior, for a player who might not meaningfully change their ceiling?

Why Deng’s Cap Space Is Critical to Lakers’ Plans

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Why does that matter? There are two major reasons, one for each of the next two offseasons:

If the Lakers want to use the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception on a free agent this offseason, they would be hard-capped at the luxury tax apron, which was $138.9 million last season. That exception would allow the Lakers to sign a starting-caliber player in free agency. Last season, the first-year salary of that exception was just under $9.3 million, whereas the Taxpayer equivalent was only around $5.7 million. Assuming a new max contract for Anthony Davis and a frozen cap, the Lakers would enter the offseason with around $102.1 million committed (including their first-round pick). That is almost $37 million below the potential hard cap, money that vanishes quickly with a Mid-Level Player and a new contract for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Clearing $5 million would allow the Lakers far more flexibility in finishing off its roster around those two signings.

The Lakers intentionally signed players to short-term contracts in 2019 with the intention of keeping their cap clean for 2021 and a potential run at Giannis Antetokounmpo. Given the pandemic’s impact on that cap, it would have been nearly impossible for the Lakers to get to true max space in 2021 with Deng on the books. LeBron James has a $39.2 million player option, Anthony Davis, on the second year of a max contract, would be at around $35.3 million, and Deng is still stuck on the books at $5 million. That’s $79.5 million for three players, only two of which actually contribute. Throw in around $10 million on Incomplete Roster Charges, and the cap would need to come in at around $125 million for the Lakers to have any chance at true max space, and that’s with literally every other player off of the books (which won’t happen either). If Deng is cleared, though, there might be a more feasible scenario in which James, Davis and Antetokounmpo (or another potential third star) all leave a bit of money on the table. It’s not likely, but it’s worth considering.