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Minnesota Timberwolves should pursue Kelly Oubre in free agency

By Dylan Jackson

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 25: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center on April 25, 2021 in San Francisco, 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 Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 25: Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center on April 25, 2021 in San Francisco, 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 Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Timberwolves need more two-way players this offseason, and one way they could go about doing so is acquiring free agent wing/forward Kelly Oubre.

Kelly Oubre is one of the more interesting free agents this year, as he had a down season in Golden State, but still proved he had value in areas such as perimeter defense and rim finishing.

Minnesota Timberwolves should target Kelly Oubre in free agency

The Minnesota Timberwolves currently have a positional imbalance. With several guards currently on the roster, the team lacks frontcourt depth, with just Jaden McDaniels, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Naz Reid as players that consistently get minutes. In the backcourt, though, Minnesota has D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Anthony Edwards, Ricky Rubio, and are bringing over Leandro Bolmaro from Europe.

In addition to this roster imbalance, the Timberwolves need consistency and assuredness. Oubre has never missed more than 20 games in a single season – and has averaged over 11.5 points per game since 2017-18.

While Oubre is just a league average shooter (about 33-percent over the course of his last four seasons, he shot 72-percent at the rim last season, and 42-percent on mid-range shots last season – both of those figures are above average.

Oubre also brings high-level defense into the equation, as a 6-foot-7 small forward/power forward combo. He is switchable from 2-4, and would be one of just a few two-way players on a Timberwolves team that desperately needs it.

Acquiring Oubre could be a bit difficult, though. The Timberwolves would have to do so via a sign-and-trade with the Golden State Warriors, and would have to match salaries with whatever Oubre signed to.

For instance, if Kelly Oubre signed a four-year deal worth $60 million, the Timberwolves would have to send out about $11.5 million due to financial trade rules.

Something like this could work, though:

In this deal, the Timberwolves would be getting Oubre while sending out salary to Houston (two young players that could be rotational role players there) and a 2nd-round pick to Golden State, which would give them a reason to do the trade. The Warriors would also be receiving DJ Augustin (salary purposes) and a 2024 Rockets pick.

Next. Wolves: 3 trades with the Los Angeles Lakers. dark

Regardless, there are avenues to bring Kelly Oubre to the Timberwolves that may not be immediately apparent. While he seems to be on his way out of Golden State, there is an opportunity for the Minnesota Timberwolves to snag another long-term, two-way role player.