The Golden State Warriors have reportedly made a win-now move.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that the Warriors are nearing a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire Kelly Oubre Jr. While Golden State is over the salary cap for the upcoming season, it can absorb Oubre and his $14.4 million salary into its $17.2 million trade exception, per Wojnarowski.
The Warriors will absorb Oubre Jr., and his $14.4M salary into their $17.2M trade exception once deal is done. https://t.co/GcLaIlnwNF
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 19, 2020
The reported deal comes in the wake of the team announcing that guard Klay Thompson will miss the entirety of the 2020-21 season after suffering a torn right Achilles tendon in an offseason workout. While no one can replace the shooting lost, Oubre can replace some of the offensive production.
Over 56 games (55 starts) with the Suns last season, Oubre averaged a career-best 18.7 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 45.2% from the field and 35.2% from beyond the arc. This past week, he was acquired by the Thunder as part of the deal that sent Chris Paul to Phoenix.
Now, Oubre is set to join a Warriors team that is clearly focused on winning now, potentially joining a starting unit that features a 32-year-old Stephen Curry and a 30-year-old Draymond Green as well as 25-year-old Andrew Wiggins and 19-year-old rookie James Wiseman.
Adding to the notion that this is a win-now move is the luxury tax implications acquiring Oubre has for the Warriors. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, adding Oubre to the fold increases the Warriors' tax bill from $66 million to $134 million.
Golden State tax bill is currently $66M
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 19, 2020
The addition of Kelly Oubre would see it increase to $134M
$14.4M of Oubre + $68M in taxes= $82.4M
Oubre is on the final year of a two-year, $30 million dollar deal signed with the Suns last offseason. His production will be a welcomed addition to a Warriors team that looks to return to the postseason after finishing 15-50 in an injury-marred 2019-20 campaign.
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