So why now, nine months after quadriceps surgery, is Victor Oladipo practicing for the first time in a five-on-five setting? Because, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra quipped Thursday, he does not see the need for six-on-six work.
The fact that Spoelstra took such a whimsical approach to questions about the veteran guard’s work with the team’s G League affiliate speaks volumes.
But Spoelstra also cautioned not to overstate the moment.
“There is no imminent date or announcement,” Spoelstra said of a 2021-22 Oladipo debut. “It’s really just part of the process of getting to some five-on-five, live competition.”
Spoelstra said the plan had been in the works for a while for the 29-year-old guard to get this practice time with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
“It made great sense to send him there and have a five-on-five practice,” Spoelstra said ahead of Thursday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center. “We did not practice [Wednesday]. This was planned, really, for the last 10 days or so, for Vic to build up to that.”
Spoelstra said the brief two-day trip proved beneficial.
“And everybody was terrific,” he said of the Sioux Falls roster and staff. “Had a lively gym ... able to get up and down and scrimmage. And that is part of the process.”
Oladipo said it was his first five-on-five work since his May surgery.
“That’s the next step,” Spoelstra said with a smile. “He’s done four-on-four, he’s done three-on-three, two-on-two, one-on-one one. The next thing is five-on-five. I do not think we’re going six-on-six.”
Oladipo returned to the Heat in the offseason on a veteran-minimum one-year contract. He will become a free agent on July 1, with the Heat with the Bird Rights ability to re-sign him above the salary cap.
Smart approach
Despite signing G League prospect Javonte Smart to a two-way contract earlier this week, Spoelstra said the initial plan is to have Smart continue to remain with the Skyforce.
“Right now he’s going to stay there, but we’ll figure that out, when he’ll be with us,” Spoelstra said of the 6-foot-3 guard. “We do like to have those guys with us, so they feel like they’re a part of it. But that’s not going to be this week.”
Two-way players are allowed to split their time between the G League and NBA.
Smart, 22, spent summer league and the preseason with the Heat. He then spent two-months with Milwaukee Bucks on a two-way contract.
“We really enjoy this,” Spoelstra said, “when we’re able to develop guys in our program. That doesn’t always work out that way. We really liked what he showed after summer league, getting in great shape. He had a good preseason training-camp with us and then started off really strong in Sioux Falls. It earned him a two-way with Milwaukee.
“We didn’t necessarily know we’d if we’d ever see him again. But there’ve been so many moving parts this year. Being able to get him back in the program and then solidify the contract that he’ll be with us, it’s encouraging to see.”
