As things stand, the Oklahoma City Thunder will need to make three subtractions from their roster as they currently roster 18 players.
Following Thunder GM Sam Presti’s 2023-24 pre-season presser though, that number is more of a formality. During his media availability, he revealed Victor Oladipo won’t attend training camp and that they’ll make a decision on his contract sooner rather than later.
Buy Thunder Tickets“The answer to that is he won’t be at camp, so we’ll have to make a decision on that contract. VO is great. He’s been through a lot. He’ll be back this season at some point, and I’m sure he’ll be playing with like a really good team at some point, but just with our roster situation, we just can’t prioritize that right now.
We’re huge fans of his. He’s got a great spirit, man, and no one can battle through the things that he’s battled through unless you have that kind of spirit and optimism in addition to being an extremely talented guy. He’ll be back, and I think he’ll be helping someone. Just the alignment for us doesn’t make sense right now.”
The Thunder acquired Oladipo and draft picks from the Miami Heat for a trade exception in late June.
Oladipo has an expiring salary and is owed $9.5 million this season. The 31-year-old suffered a torn patellar tendon on his left knee on April 23. The injury will likely cost him most — if not all — of next season.
Perhaps in previous seasons, the Thunder would’ve tried to rehabilitate Oladipo’s value to flip him for draft picks, but they no longer have that luxury due to the amount of young talent on the roster.
Once he’s no longer on the Thunder roster, Oladipo will likely stay a free agent as he tries to return from a gruesome late April injury. Perhaps if he’s cleared to return before the season ends, he’ll get signed as a flyer for a contender.
