Should Warriors make a move to get Suns small forward?
In addition to holding the №2 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors have a $17.2 million trade exception at their disposal to bring in a talented player. One such target is Phoenix Suns swingman Kelly Oubre Jr., according to ESPN’s Nick Friedell.
“The name that keeps popping up when you talk to people is Kelly Oubre,” Friedell said Wednesday on “The Jump”. “Can they get him in? What would they have to give up? They have the trade exception for Andre Iguodala as well that expires here in a little bit.”
Kelly Oubre has improved a lot as a player after his early days with the Washington Wizards. His numbers have gotten better, his impact defensively and the fact that he is a hard worker and a mentally tough player — all this sounds like a great fit for the Warriors.
Oubre has been a key player for what Monty Williams is building in Phoenix. He compliments very well the needs of his teammates such as Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton. He amplifies them and aids them to rely on their strengths — he creates space for Ayton, who needs some room to operate (Oubre doesn’t spend much time in the midrange) and Booker who needs driving lanes as well as players who can defend really well.
He is a defender that will definitely put the opposition in trouble and the 1.3 steals per game puts him in a small list of small forwards who average this many steals. He plays with a lot of passion, determination, strength and some of the highlights that fans enjoying to look at are all the blocks that he gets.
He also has this ‘’swagger’ that only a few players have in the NBA. He’s a fan favourite and by all indications, a great locker room guy who loves his teammates.
Which are his weaknesses? Defensively, when he goes one-on-one, as he allows players to shoot 46.5% against him, shockingly worse than Devin Bookers 44.2% and a bit worse than Mikal Bridges 45%.
Oubre played in 56 games and averaged 18.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 steals (all career-high). He also shot 45.2% from the field, 35.2% from the perimeter and 78% from the perimeter.