Wizards get Kansas SF Oubre in draft-day trade with Hawks
WASHINGTON (AP) From his spike-covered shoes to his initial interviews as an NBA draftee, Kelly Oubre sure made quite a first impression.
On the basketball court, the Washington Wizards are willing to be patient with the 19-year-old Oubre.
Washington moved up four spots in the first round to get the Kansas freshman in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, who selected Oubre with the 15th overall pick Thursday night.
''We're not expecting him to come in here next year and take over the program,'' Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld said.
In New York, Oubre's white slip-ons got their share of attention, as did this declaration during ESPN's coverage of the draft: ''Whoever gets me is getting a jewel.''
During a conference call with reporters in Washington, Oubre explained his shoes this way: ''Just being stylish, man. I have swag, so I know for sure that I can steal the show with some of the stuff that I put on.''
He pronounced himself ready to give the Wizards ''300 percent'' and explained, ''I have confidence in myself, so I believed that I was a top-10 pick from the get-go.''
The Wizards took Notre Dame point guard Jerian Grant - whose father, Harvey, played for Washington - at No. 19 and sent his rights to the Hawks, who flipped him to the New York Knicks for guard Tim Hardaway Jr.
Washington also sent second-round picks in 2016 and 2019 to Atlanta in the deal.
The 6-foot-7, 203-pound Oubre, a left-handed shooter, averaged 9.3 points and 5.0 rebounds, while making 35.8 percent of his 3-point attempts, as a small forward during his only college season. Grunfeld said he could see Oubre playing at small forward or shooting guard.
''There's a lot of things he has to work on, but he has natural physical abilities. He can get up and down the floor. He's very quick. He's long. He has a good feel for the game. He can get to the basket. And can defend both positions,'' Grunfeld said. ''So we think he has a good future, but it's going to take him some time, obviously, like it takes every young player.''
With their other pick Thursday, No. 49 overall, the Wizards took Iowa power forward Aaron White.
Coach Randy Wittman said Oubre is going to need to improve in certain areas, ''and I can't sit here and tell you what that timetable is without being with him and working with him and seeing where he's at and his personality and how quickly he picks things up. Those are things we'll learn about him.''
With a core of point guard John Wall, shooting guard Bradley Beal and small forward Otto Porter - all taken among the top three overall picks - the Wizards have made it to the Eastern Conference semifinals the past two seasons.
Washington was eliminated by Atlanta this season.
The Wizards know they might need to replace forward Paul Pierce, the 17-year veteran who has a contract option to stay with the club next season but could decline it so he can become a free agent.
Wall, a starter in this season's All-Star game, was the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, Beal was taken No. 3 in 2012, and Porter went No. 3 in 2013.
Washington went 46-36 this season, the franchise's most victories since 1978-79, then swept the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs before losing to the Hawks in six games.