Golden State Warriors: 3 Teams who can steal Kelly Oubre Jr.

MIAMI, FL - APRIL 01: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Golden State Warriors defends Victor Oladipo #4 of the Miami Heat during the second half of the game at the American Airlines Arena on April 1, 2021 in Miami, Florida. 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 Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - APRIL 01: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Golden State Warriors defends Victor Oladipo #4 of the Miami Heat during the second half of the game at the American Airlines Arena on April 1, 2021 in Miami, Florida. 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 Eric Espada/Getty Images)
2 of 4
Golden State Warriors (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Golden State Warriors (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors could lose Kelly Oubre to New York Knicks

The mecca of basketball, the New York Knicks had their first winning season in nearly 10 years as they reached the playoffs but were bounced in five games by the Atlanta Hawks. Nonetheless, the future is bright in NYC and they are hoping to take another step forward this summer.

The Knicks played gritty defense last year. With the help of numerous versatile defenders like R.J. Barrett, Julius Randle, Reggie Bullock, Frank Ntilikina and Mitchell Robinson, New York was able to post the fourth-best DEF RTNG in the league. In contrast, they stunk it up offensively. They made the ninth fewest 3-pointers and scored the fourth-fewest points in the entire NBA despite finishing as the fourth seed in the East.

For this reason, it’s easy to see how Kelly Oubre Jr. is a target for New York. He addresses their need for shooting without sacrificing any defense. He builds on what they are already strong at and expands on their weaknesses.

The only thing holding this pairing back from happening is the potential limitations of Oubre’s game. He’s a good shooter, but not a great one. It’s unclear how much spacing Oubre can actually offer to a team without any other 3-point shooters to help him.