Phoenix Suns: Complete grades for the 2019 NBA offseason
By Adam Noel
Re-signing Kelly Oubre Jr.
The best move the Phoenix Suns made this offseason was bringing “Tsunami Papi,” AKA Kelly Oubre Jr., back to the team.
That came in the form of a two-year, $30 million deal that Oubre Jr. signed late in free agency.
But for both sides, this a match made in heaven.
For Oubre Jr. he has the opportunity to start for the Suns at small forward and continue the breakout season he had last season with Phoenix. In 40 games, Oubre Jr. averaged 16.9 points per game on a career-best 45.3 percent from the field.
That’s exactly the kind of production the Suns will need over the next two seasons from Tsunami Papi.
And at a much higher price Oubre Jr. will need to prove he’s worth the price Phoenix paid for him. Unlike many free agents this summer the forward’s deal came later than expected and at a point where many teams had already emptied their wallets completely.
That worked to the benefit of the Suns, who didn’t need to match any contracts of the restricted free agent. The sides then worked out a reasonable contract and secured Oubre Jr.’s future in the valley.
Finally the Suns did something just perfect enough not to critique.