Don’t really have a ton of time (as usual) so here will be some core dumps as we used to do back on GSOM. First, Discord guru Gabe Johnson and I first gave our thoughts (tap the YouTube thumbnail above) on Kelly Oubre and Gabe concluded that Steve Kerr would need to tweak his system a little, because we just couldn’t envision Oubre running the same routes as Klay Thompson, or Andrew Wiggins for that matter. I’m sure this will get dissected more as we go, feel free to start the commenting below.
Then, Connor Letourneau recommended some background profiles of Oubre, a former Wahsgton Wizards player, as written by Wizards beatwriter Candace Buckner (I’ve met her before, she’s awesome!).
Another Discord user “Young Swag Gucci” found the video of Oubre head-bobbing (?) — it wasn’t technically a head-butt as that implies head-to-head contact. I’m unable to figure out how to upload the clip to Substack but we’ll have it later for sure, I promise.
So obviously Oubre is a “fiery” guy. There was that altercation with Klay, although I’d stop short of NBC Thirst Bay Area’s clickbait of “punch”:
My take? I used to play a lot of pickup basketball. Oubre is a fiery guy and this just happens a lot with fiery guys.
Speaking of which, how will he mesh with Draymond Green? He answered that in today’s article written by David Aldridge, longtime Wizards beatwriter currently a feature writer with TheAthletic:
Warriors film room: What does Kelly Oubre Jr. provide on the wing?" "That’s what he’ll bring most to the Warriors — a flanking wing with great footspeed, cardio endurance, a commitment to run, a nose for the correct lane to fill, decent touch around the rim and enough springs and confidence to finish with a power dunk when required.
There’s more on 3PP and stuff but I won’t copy and paste any more as I’m all about giving credit where credit is due and, unlike most aggregators, I don’t want to take the shine away from Slater’s piece.
The details of the deal were announced by Warriors PR:
Officially what was traded for Oubre:
1) GSW’s own first round pick
2) GSW’s 2nd round pick as acquired from DEN
If the first pick above is 1-20, then it becomes:
1) GSW’s 2nd-Rd pick as originally acquired via MIN
And finally Jason Dumas of KRON got Oubre’s first interview in the Bay. The whole Q&A is either on Dumas’ Twitter or IG:
We’ll have the Oubre Zoom call on YouTube Live at 130PM and I’ll be taking notes on Discord, tweet a subset on Twitter and copy and paste all the notes later here below.
Need Oubre to have a good season shooting the ball or that spacing on the starting unit is going to be tough to work with. I mean, perhaps Green could randomly become a decent shooter again which would solve a lot of problems, but I doubt it.
I vaguely remember reading that Dray had to change his 3-pt shooting form because continuing issues with back or some other part of body - nothing severe but yet bad enough for him to change his form and not get better with few months of rest. If indeed true, who knows may be this long rest may have done him good. We will know pretty soon.
Oubre is the real deal. Finding out more about his background and watching the 'mesh' occur on the court will be equally fascinating. I have followed this guys game for a number of years and he can get hot in a hurry. And while he's only scored 30pts+ four times over his career (three coming just last season), as a defense you can't ignore his presence on the court, nor his scoring abilities. I have high expectations that even with a little drop-off in productivity, Oubre will be significant part of the glue that continues to bind our Dubs!!! #strengthinnumbers #playforklay #rosterruminations #godubs #letsgowarriors
At this point I'm expecting Oubre to significantly outplay Wiggins and I'm hoping either I'm wrong because Wiggins steps up to the challenge or I'm right because Oubre kicks even more ass than expected.
A little awkward ending with that last question on the Zoom presser, but I loved how thoughtful his replies are and how he doesn’t drop into cliche-speak. Obviously a very bright young man. I’ll bet Kerith pulls him out a lot for half-time and after-game chats.
Man, I hope it works out! He sure sounds like he wants to work out long-term as well.
Love that quote from Oubre in response to playing with Draymond. "bro, you can come at me. Like you can get on my ass and tell me that I need to be better, or I need to do better, and I won’t take it personally.’ Because I understand that that’s what it takes to win."
A lot of Dubs fans have pointed to Draymond's altercation with KD as an indicator that other stars also don't want to play with the Warriors because they don't want to be yelled at by Draymond. Oubre's response clearly shows that KD's isn't the only personality type in the league, and that other good players aren't as thin-skinned when responding to criticism from their teammates. I am positive that many other NBA players feel the same way as Oubre in regards to being willing to accept flak from teammates if it means getting better as a player and winning more as a team.
So Draymond wasn’t one by yelling at KD on the bench? Have you not played basketball and gotten into it with a teammate? Are you actually mad at all this? Did you drink that Kool-Aid early in the pandemic that helped market a book?
If anyone hasn't seen Dray's interview on All the Smoke (youtube), I recommend it and it gives more perspective on the whole altercation and everything around it. KD's interview, on the same podcast, is great as well.
Did you see Myers tell Wiseman and Mannion “Don’t take it personally when Draymond yells at you. I don’t when he yells at me. I think he’s yelled at everyone except Joe Lacob.” Man, is Draymond ALWAYS hollerin’?
*on the court, though. In the heat of the battle. Play some basketball with people, you'll learn quite quickly that some are yeller's, some are not. And it's not like it takes place all the time, like after practice while changing in the locker room. That's obvious, right?
I've no idea what it is like to be around Draymond apart from the TV. I noticed Lebron and some of his teammates laughing at Draymond's antics when they were watching the game during a rest. It was like they couldn't believe how over the top he is. With Dray, it's only a matter of time until he explodes in each and every game, it seems. I can't recall any other player being this exaggerated. He's taken it to a whole new level of irateness.
Need Oubre to have a good season shooting the ball or that spacing on the starting unit is going to be tough to work with. I mean, perhaps Green could randomly become a decent shooter again which would solve a lot of problems, but I doubt it.
Judging from those videos his trainer posted, it appears Draymond agrees with you and is working on it.
I vaguely remember reading that Dray had to change his 3-pt shooting form because continuing issues with back or some other part of body - nothing severe but yet bad enough for him to change his form and not get better with few months of rest. If indeed true, who knows may be this long rest may have done him good. We will know pretty soon.
Oubre is the real deal. Finding out more about his background and watching the 'mesh' occur on the court will be equally fascinating. I have followed this guys game for a number of years and he can get hot in a hurry. And while he's only scored 30pts+ four times over his career (three coming just last season), as a defense you can't ignore his presence on the court, nor his scoring abilities. I have high expectations that even with a little drop-off in productivity, Oubre will be significant part of the glue that continues to bind our Dubs!!! #strengthinnumbers #playforklay #rosterruminations #godubs #letsgowarriors
At this point I'm expecting Oubre to significantly outplay Wiggins and I'm hoping either I'm wrong because Wiggins steps up to the challenge or I'm right because Oubre kicks even more ass than expected.
A little awkward ending with that last question on the Zoom presser, but I loved how thoughtful his replies are and how he doesn’t drop into cliche-speak. Obviously a very bright young man. I’ll bet Kerith pulls him out a lot for half-time and after-game chats.
Man, I hope it works out! He sure sounds like he wants to work out long-term as well.
Love that quote from Oubre in response to playing with Draymond. "bro, you can come at me. Like you can get on my ass and tell me that I need to be better, or I need to do better, and I won’t take it personally.’ Because I understand that that’s what it takes to win."
A lot of Dubs fans have pointed to Draymond's altercation with KD as an indicator that other stars also don't want to play with the Warriors because they don't want to be yelled at by Draymond. Oubre's response clearly shows that KD's isn't the only personality type in the league, and that other good players aren't as thin-skinned when responding to criticism from their teammates. I am positive that many other NBA players feel the same way as Oubre in regards to being willing to accept flak from teammates if it means getting better as a player and winning more as a team.
That s*** was all KDs fault, if he'd just run up the court instead of clapping for the ball like a child Draymond would have passed it to him.
So Draymond wasn’t one by yelling at KD on the bench? Have you not played basketball and gotten into it with a teammate? Are you actually mad at all this? Did you drink that Kool-Aid early in the pandemic that helped market a book?
Sorry not sure what you're talking about, can you rephrase?
Let's start one small step at a time, at the beginning
You sound made at KD. Yes or no?
I wouldn't say mad, I just think he was wrong
annoyed maybe?
*mad
If anyone hasn't seen Dray's interview on All the Smoke (youtube), I recommend it and it gives more perspective on the whole altercation and everything around it. KD's interview, on the same podcast, is great as well.
https://youtu.be/2vxvQY1GSTw?t=5082 (timecode)
He seems like a straight up leader-type. I am excited. A team full of leaders is best!
Did you see Myers tell Wiseman and Mannion “Don’t take it personally when Draymond yells at you. I don’t when he yells at me. I think he’s yelled at everyone except Joe Lacob.” Man, is Draymond ALWAYS hollerin’?
It certainly seems that way. There are more way to communicate than yelling at people.
*on the court, though. In the heat of the battle. Play some basketball with people, you'll learn quite quickly that some are yeller's, some are not. And it's not like it takes place all the time, like after practice while changing in the locker room. That's obvious, right?
I've no idea what it is like to be around Draymond apart from the TV. I noticed Lebron and some of his teammates laughing at Draymond's antics when they were watching the game during a rest. It was like they couldn't believe how over the top he is. With Dray, it's only a matter of time until he explodes in each and every game, it seems. I can't recall any other player being this exaggerated. He's taken it to a whole new level of irateness.
Yeah, that's a super solid attitude that if genuine should result in him doing well here.