Grading five potential Warriors-Pels trades involving Oubre

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Kelly Oubre Jr. hasn't been what the Warriors had hoped for early on.The 25-year-old wing opened the season in a horrific shooting slump and was a big reason why the starting lineup struggled through the first 16 games. With Oubre set to be a free agent this offseason, it makes sense that the Warriors would at least field calls and listen to trade offers for the young forward.The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Tuesday that the Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans have had conversations centering around Oubre, although it's unknown how far along those talks got or who called who. The Pelicans are expected to be a key team at the NBA trade deadline. At 5-10, New Orleans has been one of the league's biggest disappointments as the Pelicans have struggled to put the right mix of pieces around Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson.With the Warriors and Pelicans having discussed a potential Oubre trade, let's grade a few hypothetical deals -- and no, Ingram and Williamson are not available.

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1/5

Warriors get: Lonzo Ball
Pelicans get: Kelly Oubre Jr.

It's easy to see why a team would want to take a chance on Ball. He's only 23, has excellent court vision, is a solid defender, a smart player and hasn't been put in the best situations to succeed early in his career.

But the shooting remains an issue. While Ball's 3-point shooting improved in each of his first three seasons, it has dipped back to 29.1 percent on 7.2 attempts per game this season.

Ball would give the Warriors a secondary ball-handler who could run the offense when Steph Curry sits and would allow Curry to work off the ball when both are in the game.

Ball will be a restricted free agent this offseason, so the Warriors could have a trial run with him and match any offer he is given. Swapping Ball for Oubre would likely mean Damion Lee would be inserted into the starting lineup to give the Warriors more shooting.

The UCLA product could end up playing a Shaun Livingston-type role for the Warriors off the bench. He has the high basketball IQ, passing ability and defense to thrive as a role player with Golden State, but it might cost the Warriors too much to retain him past this season.

Grade for Warriors: B-minus
Grade for Pelicans: B-minus

2/5

Warriors get: J.J. Redick
Pelicans get: Kelly Oubre Jr.

Lonzo Ball might be an attractive long-term piece that the Warriors think they can remake, but he doesn't address one of the team's biggest needs this season -- shooting.

The Warriors currently rank 21st in the NBA in 3-point percentage (35.2 percent). On the season, Oubre is shooting a ghastly 21.8 percent from 3-point range on 5.1 attempts per game.

If the Warriors want to try and stop defenses from putting two and three defenders around Curry, they could swing a deal for Redick, a career 41.4 percent 3-point shooter. While Redick has had a down year so far from distance, history says the shots will start to fall.

Redick will be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Warriors grade: B
Pelicans grade: C-plus

3/5

Warriors get: Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart
Pelicans get: Kelly Oubre Jr., Jordan Poole

We've gone over what Ball would bring, but perhaps the Warriors would want a little bit more given Ball could reportedly get an $18 million contract offer this offseason.

Hart is a young 3-and-D wing who would provide value either in the starting lineup or off the bench for Kerr. This season, Hart is averaging 7.6 points per game while shooting 35.8 percent from 3-point range.

The Warriors throw in Poole, who has been disappointing early in his career and gives the Pelicans young guard who needs a change of scenery.

Warriors grade: B-plus
Pelicans grade: B-minus

4/5

Warriors get: J.J. Redick, Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Pelicans get: Kelly Oubre Jr., Brad Wanamaker, draft compensation

Redick would give the Warriors another shooter this season, but his contract expires at year's end. Could the Warriors try and sweeten the deal a little with a draft pick to get the Pelicans to include Nickeil Alexander-Walker? It's probably a stretch, but New Orleans has too many wings and not enough minutes to go around.

Alexander-Walker, 22, showed how high his ceiling is earlier this season when he dropped 37 points on the Los Angeles Clippers. Alexander-Walker was able to score on all three levels against elite wing defenders Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.

He's a rangy defender at 6-foot-5 who could fill Oubre's expected role nicely and the Warriors would have him under team control for at least two more seasons.

Now, would the Pelicans take a second-round pick or would the Warriors have to throw their 2021 first-round pick to secure a talented player who was drafted in the first round last year? Add in a veteran like Wanamaker, who would give the Pelicans a solid ball-handler off the bench, and perhaps the two sides can work out a deal.

If I'm the Warriors, I would like to find a way to steal Alexander-Walker.

Warriors grade: A-minus
Pelicans grade (with first-round comp): A-minus

5/5

Warriors get: Eric Bledsoe
Pelicans get: Kelly Oubre Jr.

In the same way the Warriors worked out a sign-and-trade for D'Angelo Russell in order to not lose Kevin Durant for nothing, they could also try and turn Oubre, an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, into a good veteran with a tradeable contract.

Bledsoe has been solid for the Pelicans this season since coming over in the Jrue Holiday trade. He's averaging 12.8 points and shooting 40.6 percent from 3-point range on 4.6 attempts per game. He's also under contract through the 2022-23 season.

He's a dogged defender who would give the Warriors another ball-handler to allow Curry to work off-ball. The move would make the Warriors wing deficient. Part of Oubre's appeal was giving the Warriors a good defender at the point of attack.

This trade would hurt the Warriors this season but could make more sense next year when Klay Thompson returns. It also gives the Warriors a contract ($18 million) that is easy to move in a trade for another complementary player.

This is a complete dart throw, but it's something to be considered if the Pelicans have already soured on their Bledsoe experiment.

Warriors grade: B-minus
Pelicans grade: C-plus

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