Potential Fit:
Here’s the deal. Oubre doesn’t solve the most pressing need for the Suns right now, which to me, is a getting a solid big man, especially a four. However, should he fill out, Oubre would be pretty much a dream for the Suns.
More from Suns News
- Ranking the Phoenix Suns’ 5 holiday games in 2023-24
- Zion Williamson gets compared to Phoenix Suns legend
- Suns player preview: Bol Bol can be the perfect role player
- Former Suns’ guard shows he is officially done with Phoenix
- NBA insider guarantees Suns’ rival won’t make blockbuster trade
Oubre’s potential strengths include shooting, defense, slashing and transition play, all of which are things the Suns could use. Couple all of those with his ability to actually grab a rebound over a similarly sized guy (again, something a couple of KU-Suns players struggle with, not naming names), and there’s really something there. That rebounding skill would be especially helpful for a Suns team that allowed the fifth most offensive rebounds per game in the NBA.
After all, Oubre ranked 23rd in the Big 12 in rebounds per game, and was top five at the guard/small forward positions, but that doesn’t even tell the full story. Per 40 minutes, Oubre averaged 9.5 rebounds (9.8 in conference play), not to mention he posted a defensive rebound rate right around 20 percent. Here’s a list of Suns players who posted a defensive rebound rate above 20 percent last season:
Here’s a list of Suns players who posted a defensive rebound rate above 18 percent:
Alex Len.
Here’s a list of Suns players with a total rebound rate higher than Oubre’s last year (13.2 percent):
Alex Len.
Oubre would definitely help in that regard, and he’d have the potential to make a big splash on the wing for Phoenix, especially if he could become a strong enough ball handler to spend time at a backcourt position.
Although with all that being said, if he were to develop like he’s capable of, there wouldn’t be a single team in the NBA that wouldn’t want him on their team. The groundwork is there for him to come a slightly-less-explosive version of Andre Iguodala, which is pretty solid for a mid-to-late lottery selection.
It also should be taken into consideration that the Suns drafted T.J. Warren last year, and he actually looked pretty solid as the year went on.
Archie Goodwin also started to come on in his own right, and if the team is satisfied with the core of Bledsoe-Knight-Goodwin-Warren at the 1-3 positions, it wouldn’t really make sense to waste time drafting a two or a three like Oubre, especially considering what the position overload did to the team last year at the point guard position, not to mention the shooting guard position. If you remember, Archie Goodwin wasn’t exactly thrilled with his role on the team either.
Next: Conclusion