BREAKING: The Indiana Pacers are the favorites to sign Victor Oladipo, per @BovadaOfficial
The NBA landscape may be shifting once again, and this time, it’s a familiar face possibly making his way back home. According to betting odds released by @BovadaOfficial, the Indiana Pacers have emerged as the favorites to sign Victor Oladipo, the two-time All-Star and former franchise cornerstone who played some of the best basketball of his career in Indianapolis. While Oladipo has bounced around the league in recent years due to injuries and roster shuffles, the Pacers now appear to be circling back with real interest, fueled by a mix of nostalgia, need, and strategic opportunity.
For fans of the Pacers, the idea of Oladipo donning the blue and gold once again elicits both excitement and curiosity. After being traded from Indiana during the 2020-21 season as part of the blockbuster James Harden deal, Oladipo’s career has been marked by stops in Houston, Miami, and most recently, brief stints with teams he never suited up for due to injury. Though he has never fully regained the form that made him a dynamic two-way player and Most Improved Player in 2018, there’s an undeniable draw for Indiana to bring him back into the fold, particularly as they look to build around a young core with championship potential.
The Pacers have been one of the most intriguing young teams in the Eastern Conference, anchored by Tyrese Haliburton’s rise as a superstar point guard. They made a surprising Eastern Conference Finals run in the 2024 playoffs, showcasing a new brand of up-tempo, unselfish basketball that resonated across the league. Their combination of youth, depth, and coaching stability under Rick Carlisle has positioned them as a team on the rise. Yet, despite their internal growth, there’s a clear desire within the front office to add a veteran presence—especially one familiar with the city, the fanbase, and the expectations that come with wearing the Pacers jersey. That’s where Oladipo fits perfectly.
Oladipo’s first stint in Indiana was nothing short of electric. Acquired in the controversial Paul George trade in 2017, Oladipo quickly silenced doubters and became the face of the franchise. He averaged over 23 points per game in his breakout season, earning All-Star honors and leading Indiana to a 48-win season and a thrilling first-round playoff series against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. His performance in that series, which pushed the Cavs to seven games, remains etched in the memory of Pacers fans as a symbol of what could have been. Unfortunately, a catastrophic quadriceps tendon injury in 2019 derailed his meteoric rise and changed the trajectory of his career.
Since then, Oladipo has spent most of his time either rehabbing or fighting for rotation minutes on contending rosters. While flashes of his old self emerged sporadically—especially during his short tenure with the Miami Heat—he hasn’t been able to string together enough healthy games to re-establish himself as a high-impact player. But that hasn’t deterred Indiana from reportedly making him a free-agent target. In fact, per sources close to the situation, Oladipo has remained in contact with several Pacers executives over the past year, and the lines of communication have always been warm.
The Pacers’ current roster makeup adds further logic to the potential reunion. With Buddy Hield now gone, Bennedict Mathurin continuing to develop, and rookie Jarace Walker carving out a role, there’s room for a versatile wing like Oladipo to carve out niche minutes—especially if he can defend and contribute offensively in spurts. While he may never again be the primary scorer he once was, he could thrive as a sixth man or veteran leader guiding the second unit. His ability to guard multiple positions, combined with improved decision-making and a deep understanding of Carlisle’s system, could make him an ideal complementary piece.
From a front office standpoint, Indiana has the cap flexibility and locker room culture to accommodate a signing like this without disrupting team chemistry. Kevin Pritchard, the team’s President of Basketball Operations, has been known to favor continuity and chemistry over splashy moves. Oladipo’s familiarity with the city, his positive reputation among fans, and his potential to contribute in a hybrid role all align with the organization’s values. Additionally, Oladipo has always spoken highly of his time in Indiana, and there’s a sense that both sides never truly wanted the relationship to end—it was merely a casualty of timing and circumstance.
That emotional tie can’t be underestimated either. Players rarely get second chances in the NBA to return to where they blossomed, especially after things ended amid injury and uncertainty. A healthy and motivated Oladipo could be a boon to a young Indiana locker room seeking to bridge the gap between rising talent and playoff-tested veterans. Even more, his journey from stardom to injury rehab to potential redemption is the kind of storyline that resonates deeply with basketball purists.
Oladipo’s off-court endeavors may also help make the case for his return. He’s invested in several philanthropic and business ventures in Indiana, maintained friendships in the city, and reportedly still considers Indianapolis “home” despite his travels. His connection to the community and desire to give back has remained strong, and many believe that returning to Indiana could help him finish his career on his terms—perhaps not as a superstar, but as a contributor, mentor, and beloved figure.
Critics, however, will point to the injury history and lack of recent production. Oladipo has played just 52 games in the last four seasons, and his advanced metrics have shown significant decline in both offensive efficiency and defensive mobility. The question becomes: how much of that is rust, and how much is permanent decline? For the Pacers, the risk may be minimal if the financial terms are team-friendly and expectations are managed. Signing Oladipo to a veteran minimum or non-guaranteed deal would allow the team to gauge his health and effectiveness during training camp before making any long-term commitment.
There’s also the question of minutes and usage. The Pacers are committed to developing their younger wings, and Haliburton is the clear offensive engine. So where does Oladipo fit in a system that already has volume scorers and ballhandlers? The answer may lie in his willingness to embrace a new identity as a glue guy—a savvy veteran who impacts games in subtle ways. Leadership, hustle, smart defense, and the occasional scoring burst could make him valuable in high-leverage playoff moments, where experience often tilts the scale.
League-wide, the news has already triggered speculation about whether Oladipo can rejuvenate his career. Several former players and analysts have chimed in, noting that if there’s any place that could help him rediscover joy in the game, it’s Indiana. The fanbase adored him during his prime years, and if there’s one thing Pacers fans appreciate, it’s loyalty and heart. Oladipo gave them both, and a potential return feels almost poetic.
As of now, no official offer has been made public, and Oladipo remains a free agent. But with @BovadaOfficial naming Indiana as the frontrunner, the betting markets are signaling that the reunion might be more than just hopeful speculation. Other teams like the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks have also been loosely linked to Oladipo in recent months, but neither offers the same combination of opportunity and emotional resonance that the Pacers do.
For Oladipo, this potential return represents more than just another contract—it’s a chance to come full circle. He was once the heart of the Indiana Pacers, an explosive guard who gave fans something to believe in during a transitional era. Now, with his career at a crossroads, he might get the rare chance to write a redemptive final chapter in a city that never truly stopped rooting for him.
The days ahead will reveal whether this comeback story becomes reality or remains a what-if. But the buzz is real, the odds are live, and the door to Indiana appears to be open once again for Victor Oladipo. In a league that often moves too fast to revisit the past, this potential homecoming has all the elements of something truly special—unfinished business, mutual respect, and the hope that sometimes, the second act can be just as powerful as the first.
