In previewing trade possibilities facing the Warriors during the final week before the March 25 deadline, Anthony Slater of The Athletic explains the appeal wing Kelly Oubre Jr. could hold for other teams around the league.
Slater notes that Oubre, a young, athletic wing with upside left at age 25, is currently earning $14MM in the last year of his contract, and could be used in a trade to acquire an interesting player along the lines of shooting guards Victor Oladipo and Evan Fournier (both also on expiring deals), small forward Aaron Gordon, or restricted free agent point guard Lonzo Ball.
There’s more out of the Pacific Division:
- Kings majority owner Vivek Ranadive apparently is averse to surrendering to a full-on tank this season, and hopes to remain semi-competitive by retaining two of the team’s most trade-friendly players, Harrison Barnes and Buddy Hield, Howard Beck of Sports Illustrated asserted on the podcast Locked On Kings. Dan Feldman of NBC Sports Bay Area contends that “staying competitive” is not really much of an option as, with a 16-24 record, Sacramento is currently well below the threshold to compete for even a top-10 record in the Western Conference, and thus an appearance in a play-in game.
- Suns head coach Monty Williams expressed his excitement about the potential on-court fit of new reserve guard Torrey Craig, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic writes. “He’s a big, strong wing defender who can guard ones and twos and power forwards and can switch onto a bigger guy,” Williams raved. “We liked him when he was in Denver. Hated competing against him because he was such a good defender and a tough guy for sure.”
- The Clippers appear in need of a point guard upgrade. Brian Windhorst of ESPN (video link) thinks that Thunder veteran George Hill could be a fit, but that a player at the level of Lou Williams may need to be sent back in a deal. “He’s a guy who played for [LA head coach Tyronn] Lue in Cleveland and could fit there, but it would probably take a trade of Lou Williams to get that to happen,” Windhorst said.
For the last 7 weeks Oubre is better than many players
My current season Ranking
Oubre
Ball
Fournier
Gordon
Oladipo
Right with a minus10 on-off and 1.6 ast p/36′. Only Warrior worse is Wiseman and he is a center with a future. Don’t bother talking 3p%… Oubre does not advance the team.
Fournier is a good bet though may not be a good leader… IDK… Amer second language but I’m sure he’s more confident & ambitious now.
Lol “American” is not a language and you don’t have to be American to be a leader. Off the top of my head Tony Parker. Fournier has also been in America for at least 8 years
We’ll take Fournier …. viva la France
That’s why I said what I said. You added nothing.
Tony Parker received a lot of hollering and numerous public put-downs from Popovich in his early years there following Avery Johnson.
Fourier is never mentioned in a leadership context so I addressed that perception. To me years ago, he tended to look like was in a bubble. Which can work, at either 2 or 3, his positions. His (Bas.Ref.) ast per 36′ has gone from 3 to 4.5 but never gets a run at PG despite their shortage there.
Oladipo would be an upgrade over Oubre, don’t be ridiculous.
Upgrade maybe but not worth the price the Rockets want. Oladipo doesn’t move the needle very much in regards to Warriors push in the playoffs. No way he is worth Wiseman or a 1st round pick.
What do the Clippers have left to offer Okc in addition to Lou Williams for Hill. That would simply just be doing the Clippers a favor. Lou would never board the plane or put on a Thunder jersey if this happened. Okc has no use for him in the middle of a rebuild.
Would they need to find a 3rd team that would want Lou and has something to offer Okc for him?
Hill would only leave the potential of making the Clippers better for next year, which is one of the many years Okc has their pick.
Not a personality fit either… PatBev and Hill would be like opposites.
To get a new PG though, would pretty much require LW to leave. Won’t be a thunder?—he won’t be third either.
Maybe Lou Williams, Kabengele, and 2022 Atlanta 2nd round pick to OKC for George Hill
Or Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard, Kabengele, and that Atlanta 2nd round pick for George Hill? Mayne add the Clippers own 2024 2nd round pick for them taking on Kennard?
I feel like George Hill would be a strong fit for them, although I think they would likely be better off if they could grab a backup wing defender more than a guard. Kabengele is pretty much their best asset though, besides 2nd round picks, and they already have devalued him by not playing him and declining his option
Being a Kings fan sucks.
It’s no problem we love the difficult way
GSW is currently 9th, what’s the point of trading assets for an expiring contract? The focus should be for next season with Klay returning. They should either plan to re-up Oubre or trade for a player under contract next season like MB3, Nance, Thad Young, Prince, Aaron Gordon?
Agree 100% they do not have the fire power to go far in the playoffs. Why trade away assets for a bubble playoff. Warriors need to get some big enforcers in the off season. To many small guys that get beat up inside.