Washington Wizards’ Kelly Oubre Jr. has made an impression in Washington with the front office and ownership.
Wizards’ owner Ted Leonsis and head coach Scott Brooks are both high on Oubre Jr and are hopeful that they can keep him long-term.
“He’s another great, high-character kid with great athletic skills. And yeah, he wants to be where these guys are,” Leonsis told CSN Mid-Atlantic.
“Our coach really, really likes him. He thinks he can be a difference maker. He kind of has that X-factor in his game.”
And although the Wizards have financially committed to keeping John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr. in the fold with long-term deals, Leonsis insists that money is no issue.
“So yeah, he’s going to come back and work really, really hard and challenge us to pay him a lot of money, too, which I’m glad to do,” Leonsis said.
“I think that that is important, that young players realize we would much rather pay them to stay with the organization than think the grass is greener and that some free agent from some other team is going to come in and make a big difference for us.”