© Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Andre Iguodala’s parting gift to the Warriors appears set to bare fruit. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Golden State is in “serious talks” with the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire 24-year-old swingman Kelly Oubre Jr. Oubre was sent to the Thunder this week along with Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and 2022 first-round pick in a deal which sent Chris Paul to the Phoenix Suns.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in serious talks to move Kelly Oubre Jr. to the Golden State Warriors, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 19, 2020
In the trade which sent Iguodala to the Miami Heat last year, Golden State acquired a $17.2 million traded player exception, which allows them to absorb up to that amount into their salary cap. It will lead to a substantially higher tax bill, but effectively gives them a method of cheating the salary cap to acquire a player they would normally be unable to afford. Oubre will be absorbed into that exception.
Oubre signed a two-year, $30 million extension with Phoenix last season, and is due $14.38 million this year. He averaged 18.7 points on 45.2 percent shooting and 35.2 percent from three, with 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, it would push the Warriors’ tax bill above… $80 million. This comes after the city of San Francisco rejected the team’s proposal to test all fans and have 50 percent capacity at games.
Staggering math:
Golden State would bump its luxury-tax bill past $80 million — with zero idea when fans will be allowed back in the league's newest and most expensive arena — by trading for Kelly Oubre https://t.co/U9VokvmFl8
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 19, 2020