Kelly Oubre unlikely to sign extension before deadline, according to report

Kelly Oubre and the Wizards still have time to reach an agreement on an extension to his rookie-scale contract before he hits restricted free agency this summer, but it appears unlikely, according to Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington:

Oct. 15 is the last day teams can reach rookie scale contract extensions and Oubre, who is entering his fourth season, is eligible for one.

However, it does not appear likely a deal between the two sides will get done, according to multiple people familiar with the situation.

It makes sense that we probably won’t see an extension right now, because neither side has an incentive to make a deal.

The Wizards will be over the cap next summer regardless of what happens with Oubre, and they’ll have the right to match any offer sheet he signs, so there isn’t an impetus on their end to lock into something before they get a sense of what the 2019 free agent market will look like.

It’s also smart for the 22-year-old Oubre to bet on himself right now. If he has a strong season he’ll be in high demand around the league, and even if he doesn’t, Oubre will have leverage thanks to the Wizards’ roster situation. Washington can ill afford to let a young talent walk for nothing, considering how few other prospects they currently have.

Taking this path ensures the Wizards don’t overbid the market and ensures Oubre doesn’t sell himself short. Now, it’s just a matter of waiting and seeing who is willing to make the best offer this summer and whether or not Washington can afford to keep him around.