The Oklahoma City Thunder are continuing to shift assets they accumulated in prior trades.
They are in “serious talks” to move wing Kelly Oubre Jr. to the Golden State Warriors, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Golden State is using its trade exception acquired in the Andre Iguodala deal to make the salary figures work, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, so Oklahoma City does not have to take on salary to match Oubre’s $14.4 million salary.
Because of that, the Thunder could theoretically only acquire draft capital without taking on new player salary.
It is a quick flip for the Thunder, who acquired Oubre on Monday in the Chris Paul trade, which netted them Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick. Rubio has already been traded for draft pick Aleksej Pokusevski and James Johnson.
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Oubre, 24, was an integral piece of the Phoenix Suns last season, averaging 18.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. He had at least 25 points in a dozen games and instituted the “Valley Boyz” culture in Phoenix that completely shifted the atmosphere of the organization.
Oubre is adept at driving to the rim and can create his own looks. When he gets to the hoop he can throw it down with power and he is solid enough from 3 that defenders can’t leave him open. These skills will take some of the load off Steph Curry, who will need more help with Klay Thompson having reportedly suffered an Achilles injury.
With only one year left on his contract, Oubre does not fit the Thunder’s timeline in a way that ownership sees viable to offer him a long-term contract next offseason that will likely be in the $15-$20 million range.
The Warriors’ luxury tax figure may be startling. According to Bobby Marks, Oubre’s salary would increase the tax bill by $68 million put them at a $134 million figure in luxury taxes alone.
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