Warriors Rumors: Otto Porter Jr. makes more sense than Victor Oladipo

The Golden State Warriors have an interest in both Otto Porter Jr. and Victor Oladipo. While the former would have to be bought out and the latter traded, both would make the Dubs a better team.

Both were once highly-touted names.

Porter Jr. has just dropped off these last few years while Oladipo has been injured. Oladipo’s last few seasons haven’t been at his former All-Star level, but he’s still in his prime and should be able to contribute well to a championship-contending roster.

Just a couple of weeks till the trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors are set to improve their roster, and it may be with either Otto Porter Jr. or Victor Oladipo.

In theory, Porter Jr. and Oladipo could each come to the Bay Area on a “one-year” deal, but it feels unlikely that Golden State adds both of them.

Oladipo turned down a two-year extension from the Rockets. As for Porter Jr., he’ll likely be bought out which would make him an unrestricted free agent. If Porter signed for the disabled player exception Golden State has, then the team could add both.

The negative for Oladipo is that, given his contract, he’d have to be traded for a max-value player. Andrew Wiggins is the only player that has a massive contract that will be up for grabs. Given that, Porter Jr. should be the preferred option.

Porter started his career with the Wizards. In his final full season with the Wizards, Porter Jr. neared 15 points per game.

While that’s dropped, his field goal attempts have also taken a hit. In his final two full seasons in Washington, Porter Jr. shot over 50 percent from the field. These past two seasons, Porter Jr. has yet to hit 45 percent shooting.

He needs to get back those levels, and he’ll be a solid add. Oladipo has a similar story.

He’s declined these last few seasons. Having been on an All-NBA team, it gets worse for Oladipo, who has yet to hit 40 percent from the field these last few seasons. Injuries caused him to play just 19 games last season.

The best part about Oladipo is that, on top of his elite defense, he’s hit over two triples in three of his last four seasons. Oladipo has proven himself on both ends of the court, and he’s done it at a much higher level than Porter Jr.

The problem is the trade that Oladipo would force. The difference between Oladipo and Porter Jr. is not worth Andrew Wiggins and a future first-round pick. While Oladipo isn’t worth the Minnesota pick, he likely would still require a 2022 first.

The Warriors could get both, and that would help solve some issues in the frontcourt. They’d also add top-tier playmaking. Given the shooting guard’s cost and the low level of play by both, the Warriors should target each of them, but if they only add one, it should be Porter Jr.