Kurtenbach: Three realistic Kelly Oubre trades for the Warriors

Kelly Oubre, the Warriors' big offseason acquisition, isn't working. If the Warriors were to look for a trade, what could they land? Dieter Kurtenbach explores.

The Warriors need to do something with Kelly Oubre, and more than a month into the season, that means that the trade rumors are starting.

While nothing is hot-and-heavy, there’s only so much a team that is fighting for a playoff spot — and, if you ask Steph Curry and Draymond Green, more — can handle.

I figured since we’re in early days, I’d do my best to answer some questions and toss out some ideas in the process.

Wait, why would the Warriors trade Oubre?

It’s simply not working next to Curry. And while that’s in part because of the fact that he’s only played less than 500 minutes together, I’m not sure that’s the largest part of the equation. The way in which the two players’ games have clashed was foreseeable and it’s not getting much better.

Oubre needs to play above the break. He’s a player that It’ll be a long process to make these two work together — if they can work together.

The numbers bear it out. Tuesday night, Oubre was minus-25 while the rest of the Warriors starters were plus players. That’s next to impossible and highlights the problem.

In those 486 minutes that Curry and Oubre have played together, the Warriors have a net rating (points per 100 possessions) of -8.24.

In the 223 minutes Curry has played without Oubre — literally, anyone else can be on the court — the Warriors have a net rating of plus-14.4.

That’s an absurd swing and if you think it’s going to turn around, you’re watching a different game than me.

Sounds like Oubre is struggling. Why would anyone want to trade for him?

It’s a fair question. The Warriors would no doubt be selling low on Oubre, which will compress any trade market — the best the Dubs can likely do is get another player who is struggling to fit with his team.

But other teams might find more value in Oubre because they don’t have Steph Curry and a rookie center who needs to occupy many of the same spaces as Oubre on the offensive end. Oubre is also a wing, which is exceptionally valuable in this era of basketball.

Add in that Oubre is an expiring contract and there’s likely to be at least one team that’s willing to bring him to town.

So, whatcha got, Deets?

Let’s start with the one that’s already hit the wires: Oubre for New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball.

The Pelicans changed coaches this past offseason, plucking Stan Van Gundy out of the broadcast booth. I’ll spare you my larger commentary, but the new coach plays a slow style. Ball needs to play fast to fully actualize his talent.

And given that New Orleans operates on one of the tightest budgets in the NBA and Ball has a $14 million qualifying offer for next year, it’s no surprise that his name is coming up in conversations all over the Association.

Is Oubre fair value in a deal? That’s hard to say. But he did just turn 25 and has been a worthwhile contributor on other teams. The Pelicans might see a better fit there.

Ultimately, like a smaller-scale version of the D’Angelo Russell – Andrew Wiggins trade — two players that need a change of scenery.

And the sooner the move can be made, the better for both teams, as they’ll have decisions to make on the players and could use as many games as they can get to pass judgment about long-term fit.

I’d bet on Ball being a better fit than Oubre in San Francisco as he can be a playmaker even when his shot isn’t cooperating while being able to guard opposing point guards and switch onto everyone but centers with his length.

For the Pelicans, Oubre can be a solid bench scorer who will bring juice to a team that could use it.

I do think that the Pelicans would need some extra juice to make this trade happen, even with both teams selling low — so the Warriors would move a future first-round pick and get stretch big Nic Melli in the deal. Melli is stuck on the end of the bench and I think he could be a nice option for the Dubs in a rotation pinch, as they can use all the shooting they can get.

I like it, but what about a player that I already know and care about?

Ok, you know Andre Iguodala, right?

How about Oubre for him?

Let’s be clear, Iguodala isn’t the player he once was, but I don’t think he’s fallen off too far from his final season with the Warriors. He’s still a winning player, particularly on the defensive side of the court.

And you know he won’t have any issues playing with Curry.

Iguodala doesn’t fix the Warriors’ shooting woes — no sir, he’s still a liability on that end — but if Golden State is looking to improve their basketball IQ, Iguodala is the man to do it.

This would be a good-vibes move for the Warriors, betting that they could have addition by subtraction with Oubre and that Iguodala’s presence is more valuable than his game right now.

It’d be nice to see what some Andre tutelage could do for Oubre, but alas, that’s not in the cards here. Oubre would be heading to another place renowned for its culture — perhaps this one would stick.

The Heat would be getting the younger player by more than a decade, so they’d send a lottery-protected first-round pick to Warriors to sweeten the pot.

There’s also a saucy three-team trade possibility between the Heat and Bulls where Miami lands a power forward, Lauri Markkanen, (they desperately need one), while the Bulls get Oubre and the Warriors land Iguodala.

 

Yeah, I’m not sure those trades really work for the Dubs

I agree, but cut me some slack, there’s no much to work with here.

So what’s your best shot?

How about Oubre and a second-round pick to the Orlando Magic for Evan Fournier?

The Magic guard is still a strong shooter, but Orlando doesn’t look keen to extend him this offseason, and Oubre seems to fit the mold of what they like there in central Florida.

The Magic are a decent team in a tough spot right now. They can’t score the ball, which means it’s only a matter of time before they fall further and further back in the standings. At that point, it’s time to get weird — bringing in Oubre and his vibes in exchange for a player that they’re keen to let hit the market is a good way to do it.

Fournier isn’t shooting all that well this season, and defense is always going to be an issue (he’s only passable on that end of the court), but he is coming off a season where he shot 40 percent from beyond the arc.

Boy, could the Warriors use that.

They could also use a guy who makes prudent decisions with the ball on the floor, as Fournier does. There’s no flash to his game — just a competence that draws him criticism when his shot isn’t falling.

I think the Warriors would be getting the better of the deal, so Golden State would have to toss in a pick. No big deal, though.

Does any of this happen?

There sure is a lot of chatter around it, and the Warriors are good about letting people know when they are up to something. Nothing seems imminent, but if Oubre doesn’t put together a nice streak of play, and soon, the Warriors might not have any choice but to start looking at alternatives.