Washington Wizards Should Consider Starting Kelly Oubre
Washington Wizards forward Kelly Oubre wasn’t a part of the team’s rotation, but has suddenly done enough to compete for a starting job.
Kelly Oubre sat on the bench for most of his rookie season, patiently waiting for coach Randy Wittman to call his name.
Oubre watched as uninspired veterans got playing time ahead of him, including Alan Anderson, who missed most of the season due to injury.
Even when the Washington Wizards‘ playoff hopes were dead, Wittman had glued Oubre to his seat, opting not to use that time to develop him for the future.
Once Wittman was fired, it opened up the door for Oubre.
Scott Brooks, a known player developer, was hired by Washington for his commitment to defense, and most importantly, his commitment to the younger players.
During his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder, the likes of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Reggie Jackson all saw their games taken to greater heights.
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The Wizards had seen players with seemingly limitless potential – like JaVale McGee, Nick Young, Andray Blatche, Jan Vesely and Chris Singleton – all fall through the developmental cracks.
Brooks arrived to D.C. with a winning record and proven ability to make players better.
Oubre is just one of the handful of players that the Wizards are hoping will blossom under the coach’s guidance.
During preseason, some questioned whether or not Oubre should get the starting job over Otto Porter, who was coming off the most productive season of his career.
In five of the seven preseason games, Oubre had scored double-digit points and looked much improved on the defensive end, displaying his unique length and quickness that makes him a modern small-forward.
Despite the growth shown in preseason, Oubre’s playing time has been erratic during the regular season. Brooks, like Wittman, has been more reliant on the veterans now that the Washington Wizards have failed to live up to expectations.
But slowly, the coach has gained confidence in Oubre and has begun to call his name much earlier than normal.
Given the team’s need for scoring off the bench, Brooks has yanked Markieff Morris out of the game early for Oubre, slotting Porter at the four spot.
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With the starting unit, Oubre is able to play more of the role designed for current small-forwards – meaning, he’s tasked with hitting open 3-point shots from the corner, helping on the glass and being disruptive defensively.
The mistakes he’s made when playing with the bench, including overdribbling, are mitigated when he’s on the court with John Wall and Bradley Beal.
On Saturday night against the Miami Heat – the night after he celebrated his 21st birthday with a legal glass of wine – Oubre scored a career-high 19 points.
Then on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets, Oubre started in place of the injured Morris.
He scored 15 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
Washington came away with victories in both games.
The change to the lineup likely won’t be permanent, according to Brooks, but it’s one that’s worked, at least for the time being.
“I give Kelly a lot of credit,” said Brooks after Washington’s win over Charlotte. “He’s growing right in front of our eyes, he’s playing aggressive, focused defensive basketball, and that’s what he needs to continue to build on.”
There aren’t a lot of 21 year olds that can be thrust into a starting lineup and succeed, but the Washington Wizards are in a unique situation.
The team hasn’t defended well and Oubre has re-energized the Wizards on that end. Morris, a go-to scorer, is capable of being a spark for a second unit that desperately needs it.
Now that the league is going small, the change wouldn’t even be that significant. Washington needs all the wins they can get if they want to remain in the playoff hunt. Placing Oubre in the starting lineup won’t solve all of the team’s problems, but it’s an unorthodox move that evidently works.