Phoenix Suns should reroute Kelly Oubre Jr.

Kelly Oubre Jr. was not originally a priority for the Phoenix Suns in the Trevor Ariza trade. Here’s why they should find another long-term home for him.

As part of the completely preposterous Trevor Ariza trade saga, Kelly Oubre Jr. was originally supposed to be headed to the Memphis Grizzlies. However, after the deal fell through, the Washington Wizards agreed to send him (and actual Phoenix Suns trade target Austin Rivers) out to the desert in return for Ariza.

The Ariza trade should have opened up more playing time for Mikal Bridges and Josh Jackson on the wings, but Kelly Oubre Jr.’s arrival complicates that. The easiest solution is to move him on to another team, since the Phoenix Suns weren’t originally targeting him in the first place.

Of course, there’s an argument to be made for keeping him, but that can be explored in another time and place. This article is just focusing on one way to trade him, should the Suns indeed try to do so.

The team they should try to trade him to: the Philadelphia 76ers.

This may seem like an underwhelming haul, but it doesn’t seem as though Oubre has a ton of trade value right now. He’s young, but inconsistent and on an expiring contract. He’s only shooting 31.1 percent from deep as well.

In the failed deal, the Grizzlies were willing to give up two second round picks as well as MarShon Brooks and Wayne Selden. Brooks is having a bad season and was out of the league two years ago, while Selden is only the 10th-most utilized player on the Grizzlies (by minutes per game).

This deal also gives the Suns two second round picks (including one in 2021, when their own second-rounder will likely be conveyed to the Brooklyn Nets). Instead of two end-of-the-roster guards who would struggle to find playing time, Phoenix would get a flier on a high-potential big.

Unfortunate injuries and Tom Thibodeau’s distaste for rookies has led to Justin Patton only playing four minutes in the NBA for his entire career, but he was the 16th pick in the draft only a year and a half ago. Although he’s still officially out indefinitely, Patton does plan to return this season.

Trading Oubre for Patton would clear the way for more playing time for the two young wings that the Suns are actually invested in, and could also unearth a hidden gem as a long-term backup to Deandre Ayton — or at least serve as another trade chip. Richaun Holmes has excelled in Phoenix, but he may be playing his way onto a better team as an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Trading for Markelle Fultz would make more sense given the Suns’ need for an upgrade at point guard, but since his contract doesn’t directly align with Oubre’s, a deal wouldn’t be possible since Oubre cannot be traded in combination with other players for two months.

The Philadelphia 76ers probably would prefer not to wait around to see what they have in Patton, as they consider themselves real contenders this year. Oubre would give them some immediate depth on the wing, which they sorely need.

The Jimmy Butler trade may have increased the 76ers’ ceiling, but moving both Dario Saric and Robert Covington made them a shallower team. Landry Shamet and Mike Muscala are their best bench players, though guys like T.J. McConnell, Furkan Korkmaz and Amir Johnson have gotten some minutes.

The Sixers are armed to the teeth with second round picks (Trust the Process!) and definitely would rather have a versatile wing than another backup center who isn’t even ready to play.

There are other ways to make a deal. A trades built around McConnell is a possibility, if not particularly likely. Regardless, should the Phoenix Suns look to move Kelly Oubre Jr., the Philadelphia 76ers could be one potential trade partner.