By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After the surgery to repair his right quadriceps tendon last May, Victor Oladipo is on track to make his 2021-22 NBA Regular Season debut, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday.
Oladipo, 29, was traded from the Houston Rockets to the Miami Heat a couple of months before the season-ending injury. He was limited to four appearances averaging 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per contest.
Despite missing the Indiana product, the team coached by Erik Spoelstra currently shares the lead of the Eastern Conference standings with the Chicago Bulls ranking fourth overall in the NBA behind the Western Conference leaders Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Memphis Grizzlies. The 39-21 record earned by the Heat is 2.5 games better than the third-placed Philadelphia 76ers and three games ahead of the fourth-placed Milwaukee Bucks in the East.
Oladipo, on an expiring contract, has been making progress toward a return and can be cleared to return to action as soon as the second week of March, as noted in the latest update on his status.
Meanwhile, Haywood Highsmith will be penned to a second 10-day contract, added Wojnarowski. The Heat will not be able to offer him a third 10-day contract, per NBA rules.
Highsmith, 25, went for 3.7 points and 1.5 rebounds per game in six appearances over the first 10-day contract. He had made his way to five more NBA games with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2018-19 season.
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