Pacers star Victor Oladipo scrimmaged with teammates Saturday for the first time since suffering a ruptured quad tendon in his right knee last season, Scott Agness of The Athletic writes.
“I felt good,” Oladipo said, according to Agness. “I ain’t played in nine, nine and a half months, so it felt pretty good. It felt good just being out there and making a pass, shooting a jumper, shooting a floater, layup, something. It feels like I never left at all, honestly, but I’m just taking my time.”
Oladipo, a two-time All-Star, appeared in just 36 games with Indiana last season due to the injury. He was coming off a 2017/18 campaign that saw him average a career-high 23.1 points in 75 games, holding shooting marks of 48% from the floor, 37% from deep and 80% from the charity stripe.
“You can’t really simulate playing,” Oladipo said about finally scrimmaging. “No matter how hard you try, no matter if you imagine it, dream about it, you got to go out there and actually do it — and then your body will adapt. My wind is actually really good. Probably the hardest part is not doing too much. Everything else will come. I’ve been out for nine months, so you’re not going to see any ounce of frustration on my face. S–t, I’m just happy I can play again.”
The Pacers will need a healthy Oladipo to maximize their chances of competing for a playoff berth this season, adding the likes of Malcolm Brogdon, Jeremy Lamb and T.J. McConnell in free agency to a core that already includes Oladipo, Myles Turner, T.J. Warren and others.
Oladipo plans to travel with the team for most road games, according to Agness, though it’s unclear when he’ll make his official return to the court. Indiana opens its season with a home game against Detroit on Wednesday, followed by a three-game road trip against Cleveland, Detroit and Brooklyn.
There’s more from the Central Division tonight:
- Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe (hip) will be re-evaluated this week, Eric Woodyard of ESPN tweets. Bledsoe went through a significant portion of practice for the second time on Saturday, with head coach Mike Budenholzer hopeful that he’ll be available for the season opener against Houston on Thursday.
- Despite agreeing to a lucrative four-year, $85 million contract with the Pacers in free agency, Malcolm Brogdon will have a new level of pressure in Indiana this season, J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star writes. Brogdon is expected to start at point guard for the franchise, coming off a rare 50-40-90 shooting campaign with Milwaukee.
- The Bulls will sign a two-way player in the coming days, but the team’s regular roster is set for now, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports. Chicago announced its decision to waive Simisola Shittu, Justin Simon and Milton Doyle on Saturday.
Pacers must keep Sabonis..
Dloading a first and a second for Brogdon and Sabonis
Dloading and Oli make the best backcourt duo in the east. Brogdon fits GSW perfectly and Sabonis is also a nice fit.
This trade is impossible until December. Also won’t happen
Wait till December then. Klay won’t be back before the all star break and GSW will have a slow start to the season because of all its new pieces and it’s lack of defence. Once it realises that it needs to make a change to make the playoffs in the loaded West they probably think long and hard about it. I think Brogdon a first and a pair of seconds for Russell would be good enough.
GSW gets back Brogdon who is bigger stronger taller. He’s a good defender and very efficient shooter and scorer. He won’t ask for many touches allowing GSW to play it’s quick free flowing offence.
Pacers get back Russell to pair with Olidipo giving them the best backcourt in the east. Russel is a good shooter and Victor is a good defender. Both players are good passers, rebounders and clutch shooters. That definitely gives them a strong team to build around. Turned down low blocks shots and shoots the 3. Warren can also play make and score on the wing. Off the bench you’d still have Jeremy Lamb and Tj McConnell with is a good back up combo. McBuckets is there. This elevates Indiana above Boston and probably the Raptors in the east and makes them a nice third seed.
So the hard capped dubs trade the best player in the deal and multiple draft assets for a rental and a guy they could have had if they wanted…yea makes perfect sense lol. A bunch of your trades seem to include recently signed FAs, you would think if these teams wanted these players they would have acquired them during the offseason
Warren was acquired this offseason in a trade around Draft time in June so it’s kind of misleading to include him of the group of players which made up the “core” of Indiana. He’s more appropriate to be included in the list of newcomers.