Report: Victor Oladipo passed on potential starting role with Wizards

Victor Oladipo signed a two-year, $18.2M contract to return to the Miami Heat this past summer. But before his re-signing with the Heat, Oladipo was reportedly pursued by a handful of teams. One team that appeared in the Oladipo sweepstakes was the Washington Wizards.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports, Oladipo passed on an opportunity to start with the Wizards. Fischer dropped the tidbit in his recent article about potential trades for Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder:

Zach Lowe already detailed how it will be tricky for Miami to find a matching salary for Crowder until Caleb Martin, Victor Oladipo and Dewayne Dedmon become trade-eligible in a few months. Plus the Heat have high hopes for Martin, and Oladipo spurned a potential starting opportunity in Washington to return to Miami in free agency for an impact position. Most teams, not just the Heat, will look to evaluate their current groups through a 20-game sample or so before jumping to make any sweeping changes.

In hindsight, it may be hard to see where Oladipo fits in a starting lineup with the Wizards other than a chance for the former DeMatha Catholic High School product to return to his home area.

However, Fischer reported before free agency the Wizards were interested in Oladipo. Another report by Quinton Mayo stated there was mutual interest between Washington and Oladipo.

The Wizards had their sights set on adding a starter to their backcourt. General Manager Tommy Sheppard was on record saying the team was content with three-time All-Star Bradley Beal playing point guard. That would have been the best opportunity for a potential starting spot for Oladipo at shooting guard.

Ultimately, the Wizards found a point guard by acquiring Monte Morris from the Denver Nuggets. Oladipo re-signed with the Heat on July 7. Coincidentally, Morris has two years and just over $18.9M remaining on his deal. Washington later signed Delon Wright.

Oladipo will get an opportunity to revive his career in Miami. The two-time All-Star has played in just 60 games since his gruesome quad tendon injury in 2019.