The Phoenix Suns have extended a $4.9 million qualifying offer to forward Kelly Oubre Jr., making him a restricted free agent, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
This move was an expected one, and one that had to come quickly as several teams are expected to vie for Oubre's services as a capable three-and-D prospect.
Oubre will be one of the players teams that have missed out on big-time unrestricted free agents will target in hopes to fill out their roster with strong pieces.
The Suns virtually had to choose between Oubre and forward Josh Jackson as their next small forward, and it seems that they have made their pick very clear.
Oubre posted 16.9 points per game in his 40 appearances with the Suns after being traded by the Washington Wizards prior to the deadline.
In the last month of the season, the Kansas product showed his true potential, putting up 21 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game as the Suns closed out the 2018-19 campaign, with all signs pointing at the them willing to keep him long-term.
Phoenix has a $9.6 million cap hold, which will eventually dictate how much the Suns can spend in free agency, roughly $13 million with him on the roster and $22 million without.
The Suns will likely have to match whatever offers Oubre commands this offseason, with several teams eyeing the promising wing in the coming weeks.
At only 23 years old, the 15th overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft stands to drive some stiff competition between suitors, one the Suns will be smart to match, as he's proved a seamless fit with this roster.
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