Big-name free agents the Lakers resist the urge to sign

Kelly Oubre Jr.

Our very own Caleb Crowley broke down the pros and cons of the Los Angeles Lakers potentially signing Kelly Oubre Jr. When looking at Oubre on paper with rose-colored glasses, it is really easy to talk yourself into him being a productive microwave scorer off the bench that can be similar to Malik Monk.

While the Lakers were able to unlock Monk, whose value was at an all-time low at the time, the same won’t happen with Oubre. The two players are completely different, even if Oubre’s perception right now is similar to how Monk was perceived before he came to LA.

There is a reason why Oubre is still a free agent and while he would likely be available for the veteran minimum despite being 27 years old coming off a season where he averaged 20.3 points per game. He does not fit well in today’s NBA (career 33% three-point shooter) and he is not a winning player.

The Los Angeles Lakers need winning players, not Kelly Oubre Jr.

Stats are not everything in the NBA and Oubre is a classic example of someone who puts up decent offensive stats on bad teams. He is a more extreme version of Wood, who at least has the ability to stretch the floor.

There is probably a reason why Oubre has not been on a playoff team over the last five years despite having solid numbers. You would think that a contending team would try and scoop him up to make a run with him but that has not been the case at all.

Oubre has scored 20 or more points 102 times in his career and his teams are 46-56 in those 102 games. He is not someone who is going to lead to winning basketball and quickly would become unplayable in LA.