Phoenix Suns guard Kelly Oubre Jr. is set to be sidelined for the remainder of the NBA season, a setback to the step forward the former Kansas Jayhawk has taken since being traded to Phoenix from the Washington Wizards. As reported by ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski, Oubre is expected to need four to six weeks for recovery, in which time the postseason will be underway and the Phoenix Suns’ season over, with the 17-55 Suns never really having true playoff aspirations.
Since being inserted into the Suns starting lineup following All-Star Weekend, Kelly Oubre Jr. has been in the form of his career, averaging 20 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, helping his stock rise as he enters restricted free agency this summer. Given the success Oubre has enjoyed since arriving in Phoenix, eyebrows can be raised by the fact that the only reason Oubre finds himself in a Suns uniform at all is that the deal which would have sent him to the Memphis Grizzlies fell apart on confusion regarding the Suns and Grizzlies not knowing which players they were actually exchanging.
The Suns are actively adding depth to their roster in Oubre’s absence, adding 2016-17 CBA International Most Valuable Player Jimmer Fredette to play alongside star shooting guard Devin Booker and 2018 first overall draft pick DeAndre Ayton, as the Suns eye another lottery selection in June’s NBA Draft.