According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the Charlotte Hornets are close to getting a multi-year deal completed with shooting guard/small forward Kelly Oubre Jr.
Also, the deal was reported on social media by David Aldridge earlier on Thursday. He wrote that the two parties were working on a contract and talks seem to have moved forward quickly.
Shams Charania of the Athletic reported that it is a two-year deal worth $26 million.
When the contract is finalized, it will wipe out all of the Hornets’ remaining cap space. It is yet to be determined how this latest move will affect Charlotte’s pursuit of the Chicago Bulls power forward Lauri Markkanen.
Oubre last played for the Golden State Warriors for one season, where he averaged 15 point per-game. His production dropped slightly from his previous campaign (19 points per-game) with the Phoenix Suns. He had a horrific start from the 3-point line last season, but in the last few months of the season, Oubre started to show some signs of life from behind the arc shooting 36%.
Oubre brings great length and athleticism to the Hornets lineup, who were in desperate need of wing depth and he also deepens their rotation.
As mentioned earlier, Charlotte is pursuing the services of Bulls power forward Lauri Markkanen. Shams Charania of the Athletic posted on a social media platform that the Hornets have emerged with strong interest in a potential offer sheet. The language in the tweet is basically code for “the Hornets are going to sign Lauri Markkanen to an offer sheet once they are allowed to do so.”
Terms of the contract have not been disclosed. It is a strong possibility that this will be a part of the sign-and-trades that are taking place between the Bulls and the New Orleans Pelican. More than likely, the Bulls will match the offer sheet by the Hornets only to trade Markkanen, which will go with the deals involving Devonte Graham going to the Pelicans and Lonzo Ball coming to the Bulls, with other assets.
Markkanen can be used at the power forward and center positions. He is a good perimeter shooter, can rebound affectively and last season, he got a lot better in the paint. Markkanen would help the Hornets’ front court in multiple ways by adding more depth, size and shooting. He is also young enough to fit in with the Hornets core at 24 years of age.
