I get what you are saying, but I just don't think that happens. Teams may sit guys because they are tanking (like the Suns did with Bledsoe) or wanting to see young players when the playoffs aren't a possibility. But I can't think of a situation where a guy has sat out the final few games because the following season was going to be a contract year. Guys may sit out because they will be a free agent in the upcoming offseason, but not when their free agency is a year away.ShelC wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 4:42 pmSame as it would be if he sat out 8 meaningless games in April and the season were starting in October. If he gets injured again or suffers a setback, it might affect next season for him and/or could affect the team's ability to deal him in the offseason. It's not technically a contract year for him right now, but it's close enough.
Speculation can be based on something substantive. If a player approaching free agency puts his home up for sale, changes agents, and skips his exit interview, you can speculate that he is a goner. It isn't confirmed, he hasn't actually stated he is leaving, but you can speculate that he is.
I think we have those types of concrete clues to go on when we are cooking up these narratives as to why Oubre isn't playing.