Kelly Oubre’s contract fully guaranteed

With the calendar turning from June 30th to July 1st, Kelly Oubre’s $12.6 million contract has become fully guaranteed. Oubre had been partially guaranteed at $5 million and will now enter unrestricted free agency after the 2022-23 season.

The seventh year forward enjoyed a mostly productive season in Charlotte last year, posting averages of 15 points and four rebounds in just over 23 minutes per night. Oubre eclipsed the 30-point threshold on four occasions and scored at least 20 points in 18 games.

Oubre’s numbers were bolstered by a solid start to the season, as he averaged 16.2 points and 4.1 rebounds in 56 games before the All-Star break. However, he was never able to recapture that form afterwards, and his numbers slipped to 11.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 22 games after the All-Star break. His difficult end to the year culminated in the play-in game, where he scored just three points against the Atlanta Hawks.

It is fair to wonder how Oubre will mesh with new Charlotte head coach Steve Clifford. Clifford is known for his emphasis on defense and smart basketball, two areas that Oubre can struggle in at times. Last season’s 114.7 individual defensive rating was the worst of Oubre’s career, while his 1.25 assist-to-turnover ratio was the lowest of any of Charlotte’s regular rotation members.

With just one year remaining on his contract, Oubre will be a prime trade candidate should the Hornets choose to explore that route. The most likely scenario would seem to be starting the season with him on the roster and then potentially making a move at the trade deadline depending on the direction the season has gone up until that point. With Miles Bridges’ legal situation far from resolved and with Gordon Hayward spotty availability in his Hornets tenure so far, Oubre does at least provide solid wing play, albeit with a larger degree of inconsistency than would be ideal.

Oubre is valuable both as a player and as a contract

Oubre’s 76 games played was the second-highest total of any Charlotte player last season. Going into his age-27 season, he is unlikely to improve any further as a player, but he has proven that he can be an asset when he plays to his potential. If he fails to integrate into Clifford’s system, his contract will hold value for a team looking to move off some salary and prepare for the future.