The Phoenix Suns have looked for possible buyout candidates or free-agent additions to replace small forward Kelly Oubre Jr., according to ESPN.
Oubre could miss the rest of the season with a torn meniscus in his right knee:
The Suns have looked for possible buyout candidates or free-agent additions to replace Oubre, with the expectation that the fifth-year forward will miss the rest of the season, sources told ESPN.
Oubre has appeared in 56 games for the Suns this season. He’s averaging 18.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 35.2 percent from beyond the arc and 78.0 percent from the free throw line, a career year for the former Kansas Jayhawk.
The Suns are 24-35 on the season. They are in 13th place in the Western Conference standings.
Oubre signed a two-year, $30 million contract to stay with the Suns this past summer. Phoenix acquired Oubre from the Washington Wizards last season in the Trevor Ariza trade.
Oubre has career NBA averages of 10.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists with the Wizards and Suns. He was the 15th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
The Suns will clearly take a long-term outlook with Oubre. He’s one of the players the franchise is building around. The others are star shooting guard Devin Booker and former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton.
Phoenix has been a walking disaster for years and they haven’t made the playoffs since 2010. With that said, it’s up to Oubre, Booker and Ayton to turn the Suns around. It’s not going to be easy, though, since the Western Conference is tough as nails.
The Suns aren’t expected to compete for a playoff spot this season. The only big move they made in free agency was signing point guard Ricky Rubio, although some might say the hiring of Williams was a step in the right direction.
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