“It only takes one season to teach a lifetime lesson.” This could be the opening for a detailed history of the Golden State Warriors. The focus? Former shooting guard Kelly Oubre Jr. The 2020-21 NBA season was rough for the Warriors, marred with injuries and the benching of key players. Oubre was seen as a potential savior, stepping in for Thompson. Despite his talent, CEO Joe Lacob chose not to extend the small forward’s contract.

According to league sources, Lacob clearly favored Oubre’s trading. So much so, that it didn’t even matter for a moment that the Golden State Warriors have a double luxury tax bill. And guess what was the cost of Kelly Oubre’s one-season stay? A whopping $80 million (salary and luxury taxes combined). Though the Warriors usually make decisions collectively, Oubre’s case was different, sources say. Joe Lacob, then-GM Bob Myers, and the coaching staff disagreed on whether Oubre’s skills and attitude fit the team.

After Kelly Oubre left, the Warriors won the championship in 2022. Meanwhile, the San Francisco-based team has learned an important lesson. Now, they proceed with caution, even if it means passing on a talent like Brandon Ingram. Joe Lacob, once bold with picks like David Lee in 2010 and Kevin Durant in 2016, is now more careful. The Golden State Warriors must credit their life lessons to Kelly Oubre. Their failure to add elite players to their roster this summer is partly because they are more careful. The benefits of adding Paul George or Lauri Markkanen far outweighed the potential for catastrophe.

The team’s disinterest in the Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram shows their calculated moves. Most importantly, the Golden State Warriors are bypassing Ingram’s ‘desperate’ moves to convince them to fit a seat among Steph Curry and others. And as of now, all the attempts have been drab.

The Golden State Warriors are unlikely to show interest in Brandon Ingram amid trade rumors

Recently, Brandon Ingram shared an Instagram story: “You cannot stay in environments where people don’t know the true value of you…” This was basically a video, but was this intended for someone or somebody? Many fans believe it was a message for the New Orleans Pelicans. The recent heat between Ingram and the Pelicans isn’t a secret. While the shooting guard wants a contract, the team has kept him in obscurity. The question is, how much of a dark cloud will this continue to be for the team as the start of training camp quickly approaches?

Meanwhile, another section of the fans thinks the video story was for the Golden State Warriors. Why? Because Joe Lacob and the team aren’t willing to move forward with the rumored trade. According to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater he “would not expect the Warriors to show interest” if Ingram hits the trade market ahead of the final season of his current contract with the New Orleans Pelicans. Moreover, the GSW is eyeing Jimmy Butler from the Heats. At the same time, without a contract, Brandon Ingram would become a free agent in 2025. And this could pose a potential problem for the Warriors. Once again, a monetary gamble and a strategic failure could pop up.

Reiterating the mishaps with Kelly Oubre‘s one-season blow will be the last thing the Golden State Warriors want. Moreover, their shaky situation in the Western Conference will require some solidification. Thus a smart move will be crucial. As per the reports, Brandon Ingram doesn’t tick off the bucket list, thus the team is most unlikely to consider him. This leaves Ingram in a strange spot with the Pelicans. Who will have the upper hand? This question remains unanswered for now. But one thing is clear, the Warriors have been on alert mode since their debacle and you may not see them take a silly step anymore.