In last ditch effort, San Antonio Spurs should trade for Kelly Oubre Jr.

With limited time left to go before the 2020 NBA Trade Deadline, the San Antonio Spurs should go all-in on a Kelly Oubre Jr. trade.

Only a few hours removed from the 2020 NBA Trade Deadline, all signs point toward the San Antonio Spurs standing pat. The organization usually holds it’s ground through the deadline and keeps it’s assets intact, but there’s not quite as much incentive to do so this year.

San Antonio is on the outside looking into the 2020 playoff picture with two growing teams in their way: The Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers. The Spurs are one of the worst defensive teams in the league with a rotation that doesn’t quite have an identity moving forward.

Veterans and youth collide, but not to the point where the young guys are getting the chance to truly take over with stars DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge commanding the majority of the attention.

The Suns are fielding trade calls on Kelly Oubre with 22 hours and change to go before the NBA trade deadline, league sources say

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 5, 2020

Enter the Phoenix Suns: A team with the opposite problem. The Suns tried to inject their team with veteran leadership this past offseason by adding floor general Ricky Rubio and former Spur Aron Baynes to guide them to the promised land. This was helpful at first, but they eventually cooled off and the injury bug struck the team mightily, leading to a collapse in traction.

It was recently reported that the Suns are shopping wing Kelly Oubre Jr. in a career-year. The 23-year-old is averaging 18.8 points, 6.6 boards and 1.3 steals in 34.4 minutes per game. His volume is increasing and so are his shooting splits at an impressive .453/.354./.782 on the season.

By making this deal, the Suns would secure one of head coach Monty Williams‘ favorite players, as well as an All-Star caliber leader who Phoenix has coveted for years. Returning Aldridge in this deal pairs former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton with a true-blue veteran to guide him through the early fazes of his NBA career while spacing the floor, fixing the odd starting-five issues with Ayton playing out of position at the four, and paving the way for some of the Suns’ young forwards to earn bigger roles.

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As for the Spurs’ side of the deal, this returns a familiar face in a position of need while bringing along an exciting, athletic young wing to learn the Spurs way and space the floor. Having Oubre as the Spurs’ starting small forward allows DeRozan to move to his natural two-guard position, and creates an exciting defensive dynamic between Oubre and Dejounte Murray.

This gets the Spurs exactly what they’ve searched for in a trade package: A little bit of everything. They can stay competitive, return a veteran and a young player, get a pick in return and shed one of their All-Star caliber players without sacrificing this season.

Bringing his swagger and enthusiasm to the Alamo City, Oubre would fit great with the young core and remains younger than a decent portion of them with a heap of experience to boast.

Spurs comprehensive 2020 trade deadline wishlist. Next

There’s not much time left to get this done, so I’d like to see general manager Brian Wright get on the phone and get something done as soon as possible.