In this five-part post for the upcoming draft, I’ve detailed four prospects the Oklahoma City Thunder have been linked to,or who I feel they should have interest in. If you missed part one about the four factors as described by Dean Oliver, go read here! If you missed the parts two – fours, go read about Devin Booker, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Cameron Payne.
Draft Express kept Kelly Oubre’s video as one listing the strengths first, so I’ll change up the format and start with what he does well.
Saying Oubre had an up and down season isn’t exactly accurate. Technically, he had a down and up season.
Oubre started the season as most freshmen under Bill Self do, not playing a large number of minutes and often underutilized. Oubre didn’t play 20 minutes in a game until his tenth game at Kansas, but eclipsed that mark in 19 of his next 26 games. After given the chance to perform, he showed why he was a highly touted recruit out of high school.
Oubre measured just under 6’7″ and had a wingspan over 7’2″ – both good numbers for guarding wing players in the NBA. His 6 percent body fat and 37-inch max vertical leap shows that he is one of the top athletes in the draft.
Oubre’s athleticism translates in the open court as he is a gifted scorer in transition. Against some of the best athletes in the nation, he showed his ability to get to the rim as either the ball-handler or a cutter. Despite his non-traditional shooting stroke, he was one of the best long-range shooters for Kansas shooting almost 36 percent from 3-point range. Oubre isn’t the most consistent scorer, but his long frame and vertical leap allow him to dunk on anyone willing to challenge him at the rim. When he didn’t finish with a dunk, he often got to the free throw line, averaging .444 free throws for every field goal attempt.
Oubre also showed an ability to rebound well, averaging 9.5 rebounds per 40 minutes, the fifth-highest mark on the team and the most among non-post players. Oubre uses his 37-inch vertical leap and explosive athleticism better than most wings in the draft, giving his team extra opportunities on the offensive end and ending possessions on the defensive end.
As with most players with Oubre’s length and agility, those evaluating the former Jayhawk rave about his defensive potential. Oubre showed his ability to shut down opposing wings due to his incredible lateral speed and instincts. On top of staying in front of the opposition, Oubre also had the highest steal percentage for the Jayhawks averaging 2.2 steals per 40 minutes.
Much like Andre Roberson and Hollis-Jefferson, Oubre uses his incredible wingspan to close out to shooters on the three-point line and make them put the ball on the floor – a skill that’s even more necessary in the NBA due to the extra distance between the lane and the three-point line.
While Oubre’s frame will allow him to add weight, his slight stature helps him get through screens without being deterred. Teams in the NBA will test him in the pick-and-roll but will come up short if he brings this skill with him to the next level.
As highly as I think of Oubre as a prospect, he has his limitations on the offensive end. He couldn’t create for himself at the college level and, while that wouldn’t be a problem if drafted by the Thunder, he wouldn’t be a player that could lead bench lineups. If Oubre is asked to do more with the ball than dribble straight to the basket, there is a good chance he will turn it over. Several scouting reports list his ball-handling ability and, subsequently, ability to create his own shot, as his biggest weaknesses.
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Although Oubre doesn’t turn the ball over often (he averaged a little over one turnover per game), he isn’t a willing passer and needs to improve as the pick-and-roll ball-handler. He’s always been the best athlete in the gym, and that showed last season as he often would begin an attack with no plan which often ended poorly.
Oubre is a typical college prospect in that he relies heavily on his dominant hand (left) when he feels uncomfortable and this applies to finishing at the rim. If asked to dunk the ball, then Oubre has no problem, but if a defender is protecting the rim, then Oubre is often going to attempt to finish with his left hand unsuccessfully.
The only questions defensively from Oubre is his ability to provide consistent effort. When locked in, there are few prospects that teams believe have a higher defensive upside than Oubre. But because of the responsibility that fell on his shoulders at Kansas, he wasn’t always engaged defensively due to fatigue or a lack of focus.
Overall, I expect Oubre to be a player that can contribute to a team based solely on defensive effort. How much he improves, however, could be completely up to him.
Which prospect would you prefer? Payne? Hollis-Jefferson? Someone I haven’t mentioned? Feel free to leave suggestions in the comments on who the Thunder should draft!
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- 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
- Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
- Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder