Atlanta Hawks: 1 player to poach from each division rival

Atlanta Hawks stolen rival player No. 3: Kelly Oubre got a worse rap than he deserved in Golden State

Your opinion of Kelly Oubre is *mostly* wrong. After beginning the season averaging just 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds and shooting an abysmal 13.7 percent from downtown, Oubre put up 16.6/6.1/1.4 and a steal from Jan 12 on. There was even a 24-game stretch in there where he averaged 17.7 points and shot 39.6 percent from beyond the arc.

We’ve come to know Oubre more for his fashion sense, high-flying dunks, and questionable shot selection.

In February alone he averaged 20.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while knocking down a whopping 43 percent of his threes. Done across a full season, that would have put him in the top-15 for qualified snipers last season.

Only Durant (he might be kind of good) averaged 20 points and 6.0 boards while shooting 43 percent for the entire season.

Oubre has always been a capable defender, who can guard 1-4 and some small-ball centers.

The talent has always been there with Oubre, the focus on the floor just wasn’t. He showed a lot of growth in that regard as the season wore on and Travis Schlenk and Nate McMillan have fostered an environment of development. Much in the way that it’s done back in Golden State, Schlenk’s old stomping grounds.

That being said, his inconsistency is exactly why the deal Oubre signed with Charlotte this offseason — two years, $26 million — is the right amount of risk.

It’s a hefty sum, sure. But you get a modern, switchy wing for a reasonable price if it works and a nice salary matching chip if it doesn’t.