New York Knicks: Pros and cons of targeting Kelly Oubre in free agency
By Dalton Sell
The New York Knicks certainly surprised the NBA landscape as they finished the regular season as the fourth-seed in the Eastern Conference.
Ending up in the postseason for the first time since 2013, it seemed like the Knicks had reached a turning point as they boasted home-court advantage in the first round. Although they ended their abysmal stretch of mediocrity, the Knicks flamed out quickly in the postseason as the red-hot Atlanta Hawks knocked them out in just five games.
Despite the tough loss, the future is bright in the Big Apple. The Knicks will only improve from here, and they have a golden opportunity afoot to retool ahead of next season. The Knicks are set to be among the players with the most cap space this offseason, giving them the luxury to go out and bring more high-end talent into the fold as they look to build off of a promising year.
While adding a superstar talent is at the forefront of fan’s minds right now, with rumors swirling about Damian Lillard’s future with the Portland Trail Blazers and the never-ending Bradley Beal saga in Washington, fans should not get their hopes too high just yet. While everything is just rumored at the moment with the season still being played, one potential target that has already surfaced for the Knicks has seemingly caused a mixed reaction from the fanbase.
The Knicks York Knicks are reportedly interested in signing Kelly Ourbe Jr. once 2021 NBA free agency begins
According to the New York Post’s Marc Berman, the Knicks currently have soon-to-be free agent forward Kelly Oubre Jr. on their radar. Oubre had an inconsistent season with the Golden State Warriors in 2020-21, leaving his future with the team unclear. With a potential change of scenery in mind for Oubre, Berman notes that the interest between the Knicks and the 25-year-old might be mutual as the team prepares to scour the market for upgrades at several key positions.
While he is surely not a superstar that many envisioned the team would target, Oubre has carved out a name for himself since coming into the league and could be a feasible target for this team once the season officially concludes. With that being said, here are the pros and cons of the Knicks potentially taking a look at Oubre this offseason to shore up their rotation.