Injuries can change the fate of a sports team, and the Golden State Warriors experienced this firsthand last season. Stricken by a wave of injuries, they ended up being the worst team in the NBA. Luckily, this unfortunate situation granted them the number two pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, allowing them to select Memphis big man James Wiseman. While they might not be the favorites to dominate the Western Conference, there is a sense of optimism surrounding the Warriors as they aim for improvement this season.
However, this optimism comes at a steep price, as the Warriors are investing a ton of money to bolster their roster. In fact, they are set to pay an astonishing $82.4 million for one player, stirring up curiosity about who this player might be. Could it be a superstar like Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, or Draymond Green? Or perhaps, there's a chance that Kevin Durant could make a return to the Bay Area?
Contrary to the expectations of many, the player in question is journeyman wing Kelly Oubre Jr. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Warriors traded a 2021 protected first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder to acquire Oubre. This marked Oubre’s second trade in less than a week, as he had just been moved from the Phoenix Suns in a trade that brought Chris Paul to Phoenix. Oubre wasted no time in taking shots at his former team, particularly targeting Suns owner Robert Sarver in his comments.
What You Will Learn
- The impact of injuries on the Warriors' performance last season.
- How the Warriors secured the number two pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
- The financial implications of signing Kelly Oubre Jr. for the team.
- Oubre's sentiments about his former team and his new opportunity with the Warriors.
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