KEY POINTS

  • Kelly Oubre Jr. wants a $20 million annual salary from any team that wants him
  • Oubre may have limited options in getting his desired starting role
  • The Warriors are unlikely to favor Oubre over Klay Thompson

Kelly Oubre Jr. has added yet another twist to what he wants from NBA teams this offseason by seeking a contract worth $20 million per season.

This new requirement comes not long after the 25-year-old made it clear that he prefers to be a starter than someone who comes off the bench.

In a report from the Wes Goldberg of the Mercury News, the 6-foot-7 cager wants higher pay from teams once he becomes a free agent next month.

Oubre is coming off a $14.4 million deal with the Warriors for the 2020-21 season, the final year of a two-year $30 million pact he originally signed with the Phoenix Suns.

Although he has proven to be a talented player, pundits feel that Oubre may not reach that salary number.

He is coming off a so-so campaign with the Warriors where he averaged 15.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while shooting 31.6 percent from the three-point area.

It should be noted that these are numbers that were down compared to his previous season with the Suns.

Aside from that, there is another condition that needs to be fulfilled for Oubre. He was relegated to a bench role after returning from a wrist injury and was not too happy about it.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr mentioned that Oubre will continue to come off the bench next season.

These words did not sit well with the 15th overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft.

Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Golden State Warriors
Kelly Oubre Jr. #12 of the Golden State Warriors Getty Images | Jared C. Tilton

"It put fire in my heart. It added fuel to the fire. Being 25 years old, the way my career has shaken out, the growth that I've shown in my career, to go from the 15th pick, to continuously having numbers grow each and every year, and my role and my opportunity grow each and every year, to have a year where my opportunity is lessened,” Oubre said.

Looking ahead, it appears Oubre is on his way out of the Bay Area with the Dubs unlikely to adhere to his expectations.

One reason for that is the speculated return of Klay Thompson, something that may justify why it would be best for the NBA swingman to come off the bench.

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