Depth is key for true championship-caliber NBA rosters, especially as the game continues to progress from a skill perspective in the modern era.
For Luka Dončić, an aging LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, depth will need to be a core tenet of their success throughout the 2025-26 campaign. Los Angeles made a push for more reserve talent this past summer, but their general manager Rob Pelinka could view their bench as needing at least one more experienced difference-maker.
If the Lakers view their chances of realistically competing in a loaded Western Conference dipping on a nightly basis to begin this season, then desperate times might call for desperate measures.
In that case, former Indiana Pacers star and the NBA's 2018 Most Improved Player Victor Oladipo will be waiting in the wings to receive a shot at a triumphant NBA comeback.
Prior to Monday night, the injury-riddled 33-year-old had not stepped foot on an NBA court since the 2022-23 season as a member of the Miami Heat.
Oladipo faced off against the San Antonio Spurs for a preseason matchup with the CBA's Guangzhou Loong Lions, a contest that saw the 6-foot-3 guard finish with 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and five steals in 28 minutes of action.
Los Angeles' top brass, among other teams, likely took note of Oladipo's strong return against NBA competition, especially due to his wonderful defensive impact.
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At his peak, Oladipo became one of the NBA's strongest two-way guards with the Pacers. In 2017-18, he officially broke out as an undeniable force on both ends, leading the NBA with 2.4 steals and notching an All-Defensive First Team selection in the process.
It's understandable for teams to be concerned about his past injury history, but the risk might be worth it for a Lakers team wishing to add more defense at their guard positions to support the slower-footed Dončić.
In 75 appearances for the Pacers in the 2017-18 regular season, Oladipo averaged 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists on a solid 57.7% true shooting percentage.
Most notably, he pushed James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to the brink of elimination in a seven-game series in the first round of the 2018 postseason.
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