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The Brooklyn Nets were interested in Warriors’ guard Kelly Oubre Jr.

By Nathan Beighle

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 25: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the second half against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on March 25, 2021 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 25: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Golden State Warriors looks on in the second half against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on March 25, 2021 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors didn’t end up parting ways with Kelly Oubre Jr. prior to the March 25 NBA Trade Deadline. That doesn’t mean that the offers weren’t rolling in for the high-potential guard.

Oubre Jr. is owed $14 million this season, and the amount to snag him off a Golden State team that is still a ghost of their formerly dominant selves could’ve been low. The Nets, nor any other team, didn’t meet that asking price though.

Despite Kelly Oubre Jr. being in a contract year, the Golden State Warriors didn’t trade the star guard although the Nets gave them an enticing late-minute offer.

"“In New York Times reporter Marc Stein’s latest newsletter, he revealed that the Brooklyn Nets floated a Spencer Dinwiddie-Oubre swap that the Warriors ultimately rejected,” SF Gate’s Alex Shultz wrote."

It’s up in the air if Dinwiddie is going to return this season for Brooklyn. Already with a plethora of highly-talented stars, the Nets will be just fine, but an Oubre Jr. or Dinwiddie-like guard off the bench would make them even more lethal.

Stein also went into how the Warriors are still wanting to be a playoff-making team this season as well, so they clearly weren’t going to blow it up for a future late first-round pick. It wasn’t worth it to them.

Oubre Jr. isn’t having the season that many thought he could, but he’s still a major factor on the Warriors roster. Averaging over 15 points per game, down from 18.7 per game a season ago, Oubre Jr.’s scoring and efficiency have both taken a hit.

What’s great about Oubre Jr. is his athleticism and energy. He brings it on both ends of the court on a nightly basis, and that should be a huge reason why teams look into signing him to a long-term deal this offseason.

As for the trade, given Dinwiddie’s status and how well Stephen Curry’s playing this season, there would’ve had to be a very good other asset packaged in to make the deal worth Golden State’s while. Clearly, nothing sparked the Warriors’ interest too much.

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Golden State is pushing forward to make the playoffs, and with their roster finally healthy, there’s no reason they can’t string off seven or eight wins over the course of their next ten games. Given their sub-.500 record, it’ll be an uphill battle from here on out.

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