What about Oladipo’s injury makes him cooked? Not questioning you but just curious if there’s been any medical discussion? I know it was a serious quad issue and he loses a lot of value if athleticism doesn’t return. Is there a belief that it never will?
He ruptured his quad, it's a pretty uncommon and serious injury for an NBA player. Usually happens in people a bit older. Here is a Q and A with an orthopedic surgeon near the time of the injury, I agree with his concerns.
I don't think we can say he's definitely cooked, but the fact that he came back and wasn't very good is a warning sign. Still might be worth the gamble, I prefer that to Turner/McDermott.
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/why-one-knee-doctor-says-victor-oladipos-ruptured-quadriceps-tendon-is-worse-than-an-acl-tear/
CBS SPORTS:
Bottom line, do you expect Oladipo to make a full recovery?
DR. BENNER: The hard part is even if you get full range of motion back, even if you get all the strength back, there is that unknown part of the equation. Professional athletes have to put incredible stress on that muscle and tendon, whereas a normal person who sustains this injury, they're just looking to restore continuity of the muscle and get as much of the motion and function back as they can. They want to walk normal. Things like that. Victor Oladipo is an incredibly explosive and dynamic athlete. That's one of the things that makes him so special. So he has loftier expectations, or a higher bar if you will, for his recovery.
From a medical standpoint, the tendon is going to heal. If he is able to get his full motion and all the strength in his muscle back, he will be able to return to the explosive athlete he's been. But the thing is: it's hard to recover all that. There is no question that there are some aspects of an injury that might be insurmountable. Results differ from person to person, surgeon to surgeon, athletic trainer to athletic trainer. You just don't know until you get into the rehab and see how the athlete responds, and really, once he's back out there competing and being explosive and athletic.
Also, for the athlete, getting back the same level of strength and range of motion and all those things isn't the only hurdle with an injury like this. It's the mental part, the confidence to jump and land and explode the way an athlete like Oladipo is used to doing. Now, Victor Oladipo seems to be hard working and a really mentally strong guy, so I would say all indications would point to him being able to make a full recovery. But there is an unknown factor with an injury like this.