If nothing else, Oladipo has a rare mentality which drives him to improve in every area he can; that much becomes evident after speaking with him even just a few times. Professional athletes give lip service to personal improvement on a regular basis, but the way Oladipo carries himself, on and off the court, suggests sincerity.
Lest one get the impression I'm damning the rookie with faint praise: Oladipo already does some terrific things, and he's only going to get better. His speed and quickness, with and without the ball, makes him an explosive offensive player. Those skills also enable him to draw contact in the lane, setting himself up for free-throw attempts and saddling opponents with fouls in the bargain. The Indiana product shot about one free throw for every three field goals he tried, an already solid ratio which will improve as he becomes even craftier varying his speeds to further keep defenses guessing.
Although playing Oladipo on the ball probably isn't feasible long-term, given his iffy playmaking instincts, he showed some improvement as an initiator as the season wore on. His growing chemistry with Nik Vučević in the pick-and-roll suggests Orlando could have a dynamite wing/big pairing for the next five-plus seasons.
Defensively, Oladipo took some lumps as he got caught ball-watching, but almost every young player--not only rookies--struggles with the adjustment to defend at the professional level. More attentiveness on defense will serve him well as his career progresses, but in the interim, his quick hands and dynamic leaping ability enable him to play the passing lanes and help protect the rim from the weak side. Just ask Carmelo Anthony about that last point.
