Victor Oladipo is trying to force his way back into the NBA conversation, and Sacramento at least gave him a look.
The former Orlando Magic guard reportedly worked out for the Kings during Summer League in Las Vegas as he pushed to show he’s healthy after a patellar tendon rupture in the 2023 season. Sacramento ultimately signed Ben Simmons to a veteran’s minimum deal, but Oladipo was part of the group the Kings considered while searching for veteran help.
Oladipo made his case publicly, too. In The Players’ Tribune, he wrote a letter to general managers explaining why he believes he still belongs in the league, and he framed the whole thing around his daughter.
"The version of her dad that got kicked all the way down the mountain, then spent years trying to climb back up, only to get kicked back down, again and again … but never once quit trying to climb. The version of her dad that, let’s be real, is probably getting counted out by a lot of people, and is probably getting laughed at by a few of them … but has managed to keep his faith, and keep his purpose.
The version of her dad that’s finally found the perspective, and the humility, to write a letter like this one. To say to any GM who’s willing to listen: I believe my body is finally right.
I believe I still have GREAT (and more importantly, WINNING) basketball in front of me."
He’s hoping that message lands somewhere before the season begins.
For Magic fans, Oladipo’s name still carries a certain what-if weight. Orlando drafted him second overall in 2013, making him the franchise’s first pick after trading Dwight Howard. Even in a draft that wasn’t considered especially strong, he arrived as a player the team could build around.
His Orlando years had flashes. The Magic tried him at point guard during their rebuilding stretch, and he had big moments across three seasons.
But the organization’s instability - changing coaches and a muddled direction - kept him from fully taking off. He averaged 15.9 points per game in those three seasons before Orlando dealt him to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a trade that also sent Domantas Sabonis for Serge Ibaka.
That move came with a lot of criticism, and it was close to the bottom of the Magic’s rough rebuild under Rob Hennigan. It wasn’t the final misstep, but it was a glaring one, especially for a team that sent out a promising young player for an expiring contract. Ibaka would be moved later that season for Terrence Ross.
Oladipo’s career then took off in Indiana. After a year with the Thunder, he became an All-Star with the Pacers, posting 23.1 points per game in the 2018 season. In his letter, he said the lessons from Orlando helped prepare him for that jump.
Since then, injuries have repeatedly interrupted his run. A ruptured quad tendon in the 2019 season changed everything, and even after returning, he struggled to recapture his old athleticism and production. He has since bounced in and out of the lineup for the Pacers and Heat while rehabbing and trying to get right.
Orlando has an open roster spot ahead of training camp, but it does not appear to be the destination for a reunion. The Magic signed Malakhi Branham and J.D. Davison this week to Exhibit 10 deals, and both are expected to spend the year with the Osceola Magic after Orlando acquired Branham’s G-League rights earlier this week.
That leaves the roster spot open, and it also fits with the team’s current financial approach. The Magic are not trying to add salary and push into the second apron, and waiting until after the deadline would allow them to add a player without crossing that line.
So for now, Oladipo’s best shot remains somewhere else in the league. He wants one more chance to prove he can still help an NBA team. Orlando fans can’t offer him that chance, but they can at least root for the comeback attempt to get another turn.
In Other News...
Magic NBA Cup Opener Just Got A Lot More Complicated
Kawhi Leonards move from the Clippers to the Raptors has dragged out in a way that matters well beyond Toronto, and Orlando is feeling the ripple effect. After an investigation into salary cap circumvention delayed the trade, Leonard was fined $700,000 but will not be suspended, clearing the way for him to play and immediately raising the stakes for a Raptors team the Magic will see twice early in the season.
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Hornets Enter A Risky New Era With One Huge Offensive Question
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The broader offseason backdrop also touches the Orlando Magic, who have their own changes to sort through after a coaching change and a new broadcast partnership for games in certain Florida markets. It is a quieter sort of turnover than a roster shakeup, but for a team trying to keep moving forward in the East, those kinds of adjustments can matter just as much as any headline signing. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Face One Big Backcourt Question With Bane And Suggs
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The bigger question is how coach Sean Sweeney puts that blend to work in ways that maximize both players instead of forcing either into a narrower role. Suggs has already established himself as the defensive specialist in the group, while Banes availability and scoring consistency last season gave Orlando a reliable base to build around. If the Magic get the spacing, usage and defensive balance right, this backcourt could become one of the defining pieces of their next step. [Read more 🡒]