Restricted free agent Kelly Oubre Jr. has agreed to a new two-year, $30,000,000 contract to re-sign with the Phoenix Suns.
Oubre, a 6’7″ small forward from the University of Kansas, was traded to the Suns from the Washington Wizards last season. Oubre was traded for guardAustin Rivers (who was then waived and signed with the Houston Rockets) and forward Trevor Ariza (who signed with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer as an unrestricted free agent).
In 40 games for the Suns (12 starts), Oubre averaged career highs for points (16.9), field goal % (45.3%), rebounds (4.9) and assists (1.6). Once the Suns moved Oubre into the starting lineup after the All-Star break, Oubre’s numbers became even better. Once inserted into the starting lineup, Oubre averaged 20 points, 5.7 rebounds, and an NBA leading 2.1 steals per game. In the 12 games that Oubre started for the Suns, they went 6-6. In the 70 games without Oubre as a starter, the Suns went 13-57.
“I’ve said before: We love Kelly,” Suns general manager James Jones told reporters in April. “We want Kelly here.” Jones recently reiterated to reporters that, “We’ve demonstrated time and time again that he’s someone that we love and we value and we’ll continue to talk.”
Oubre, 23, spent his 3 1/2 seasons in the NBA with the Wizards. The 15th overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft averaged 8.2 points per game, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.7 steals per game for Washington.
