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Howlin' Wolves | Minnesota Timberwolves MyLeague
Timberwolves acquire Kelly Oubre Jr. from Suns, exchange Evan Turner and 2020 protected 1st round selection
nba.com/timberwolves/morningcoffee | December 23rd, 2019
The Timberwolves have had an early Christmas present, given the big day is just two days away.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have finally gone ahead with the acquisition of Kelly Oubre Jr., after the Phoenix Suns agreed to exchange the small forward with Evan Turner and a 2020 1st round pick (lottery protected) which originated from the Brooklyn Nets. The trade comes months after speculation the Timberwolves were interested in the former Washington Wizard.
Oubre Jr., 24, averaged 14.1 points per game this season, shooting .463% from the field – slightly down from the 2018/19 campaign where he averaged 15.2 points per game as a Phoenix Sun and Washington Wizard. He’s been consistent for the Suns this season, averaging 13.9 points per game at home and 14.3 points per game on the road – which will impress the Timberwolves, given they have performed better on the road this season, which is one of the reasons why they sit so high up in the Western Conference.
He's a fit in the Timberwolves starting line-up. Oubre's superbly long and athletic, which helps him excel as a defender, which will aid Minnesota on defense, something they have been average at this season. He really thrives in an up-tempo game, which suits the Timberwolves type of game, keying transition with steals and slashing down the lane with high-flying dunks, often performing over-excessive taunts and celebrations. A lefty who possesses solid offensive potential to go with his strong defensive upside. Can play anywhere from shooting guard to power forward, which gives flexibility to rotations, something the Timberwolves desire and like to have on their roster. Oubre’s shot selection is still a work in progress, which hurts his field goal percentage. Still, it’s an upgrade over Josh Okogie, whose shot is even worse. He has a tendency to venture to his left far too often, and needs to develop more moves (especially to his right). He’s not much of a passer at all, and must improve his court vision.
The flamboyant forward is contracted to the Minnesota Timberwolves through the 2020/21 season, where they would ideally like him to re-sign. Oubre will count $14.38M against the cap next season. The Timberwolves have around $27.52M in cap room available for next season. It’s an interesting move to make, considering Ben McLemore and Josh Okogie are also on the roster, with both having started at small forward this season and playing a rotational role within the roster. This move gives a clear starter and shores up the Timberwolves, who now are arguably even more dangerous on offence with the addition of Oubre Jr.
Head coach Ryan Saunders confirmed he won’t suit up for their contest at Cleveland the day after Christmas day. “We want him to get ready, have a few days to assimilate himself in the locker room and learn the playbook.” Oubre Jr. will likely start against the Washington Wizards, his former team, on New Years Eve.
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I like Oubre's game. irl I hope he thrives with the Suns. In here I hope he goes tf off for you.
Howlin' Wolves | Minnesota Timberwolves MyLeague
Despite a slow shaky start, Oubre Jr. made his presence felt late in the game
nba.com/timberwolves/morningcoffee | January 1st, 2020
He's been on the team for eight days and already Kelly Oubre's presence is paying off.
Acquired at midnight on 22nd December 2019, the Timberwolves sent a lottery protected draft selection and Evan Turner to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for the small forward, who they believe can become an integral part of the team. He showed that against the Washington Wizards as they began a remarkable comeback after John Wall was fouled out with seven minutes to go.
The start, however, was less than ideal and shaky. That was to be expected for a player who began training with the team following their loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers the day after Christmas. Oubre started the game 1 of 7 on field goals, which isn't great, let's be honest. However, he performed better as the game went on and ended with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists. Most of those points came in the final minutes of the game, where his three point shot with 1:56 remaining in the game gave the Timberwolves a 121-119 lead. On the next possession, he would feed the ball to D'Angelo Russell for another three point score before adding two more via foul in the final moments of the game to secure the W.
Without Oubre in the line-up, the Timberwolves arguably would have lost to the Wizards, who began to reel after losing John Wall due to foul out. Oubre picked up the slack from Karl Anthony-Towns, who himself was fouled out with around five minutes to go. His night of 18 points was merely pedestrian. It's outlandish to expect KAT to put up 30 points for 58 consecutive games. He wasn't his best tonight and he didn't need to be, because Kelly Oubre was there to help support where others haven't this season. Josh Okogie was the starting small forward for the majority of the season so far, he's better on defense but has performed terrible on offense, averaging around .300 from field goal percentage.
The flamboyant small forward is just one game into his Minnesota Timberwolves career, but you just can't help and think that he's going to sure up some holes which were glaringly obvious the past three months. On the face of things so far, the trade was an excellent move. Last season, they really wanted D'Angelo Russell and got him. This season, they really wanted Kelly Oubre Jr and did everything they can to get him before the turn of the New Year, even if it does cost them from drafting Anthony Edwards.
Howlin' Wolves | Minnesota Timberwolves MyLeague
Into a new decade we go. The 2010s were an interesting one. The Super team trio came about in the early part of the decade as the Miami Heat dominated before Golden State Warriors emerged and forged a dynasty of their own, often battling the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. The 2020's ushers in a new era of basketball, perhaps dominated by other up-and-coming teams. This year has had its surprises. The Minnesota Timberwolves are still going strong, the New York Knicks finally won a basketball game and the Golden State Warriors are struggling. You can view the December Players of the Week here.
In the All-Star vote, James Harden leads all players with over 2.1 million votes. One glaring absent name from that list continues to be D'Angelo Russell. At this stage, it looks like Karl Anthony-Towns will be going it alone into the All-Star break.
The Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant and Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James today were named as their respective Conference Players of the Month, for games played during December. The Nets are having an average season with a 10-14 record as of writing, while the Los Angeles Lakers are leading the Western Conference with a 16-7 record, having gone 7-3 in their last 10 and have posted a 10-3 home record.
Durant has played well for the Nets with the rest of the team struggling to help the All-Star take them over the hump. In his last four games, Durant has averaged 22.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. The Nets have gone 2-2 in their last four games, with 122-98 (Jan 01), 125-124 (Dec 26) wins over Detroit and Charlotte and 108-100 (Dec 27), 98-97 (Dec 24) losses to Cleveland and Toronto. Kevin Durant has won player of the week and player of the month for the Nets, but he won't be winning anything else this season. Maybe some All-Star competitions.
James has made the LA Lakers into one of the best teams in the NBA. They have gone 3-1 over their last four games due to him averaging 29.7 points, 9 assists and 2 steals per game during that period, where they blew out the Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans. They did drop one to Miami on December 30, which allows Minnesota to keep pace with them in the Western Conference. LeBron James is showing consistency this season and on the very wrong side of 30. Each week it's looking more likely the Lakers are going back to the NBA Finals for the first time in 12 years (2008).
The New Orleans Pelicans' Zion Williamson and New York Knicks' R.J. Barrett today were named as their respective Rookie Conference Players of the Month, for games played during December. Power Forward Zion Williamson is second among all rookies in scoring with 19.5 points per game, while R.J. Barrett is third with 16.3 points per game.
Williamson has continued his brilliant rookie run, despite the Pelicans suffering four defeats in their last four games. The 19-year old is a bright spot in an otherwise dark season for the Pelicans.
Barrett is coming off a 24 point game in which the Knicks lost to the Celtics, 130-113. He did struggle in their lone win on the season over the Dallas Mavericks with just 8 points and going 2 of 9 on field goals. He was much improved against the Celtics, going 10 of 14.
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× Watching: X-Men: The Animated Series ×
× Watched: The Pigeon Tunnel (2023), Kindergarten Cop (1990), Arsène Wenger: Invincible (2021) ×