4 76ers whose stock are skyrocketing, 2 that are fading fast

The Philadelphia 76ers traded James Harden and ended the drama without things becoming too messy. The ten-time All-Star got his wish to play with the Clippers, and the Sixers are ecstatic to let Tyrese Maxey continue his growth as their lead ball-handler. Philadelphia is 5-1 and hasn’t missed a beat.

President Daryl Morey kept the 76ers cap sheet clean for next season, but the roster is still a contender. He will likely shop for a star before the deadline, but their current players will have to hold down the fort in the meantime. The Sixers have the reigning MVP in Joel Embiid and a blossoming star in Tyrese Maxey that alone may be enough to make them title challengers.

Who is playing well through the team’s first six games and which players must do more? Here is a stock watch for the opening two weeks of the 2023-24 season.

Stock skyrocketing: Kelly Oubre Jr.

The 76ers may have picked up the steal of the offseason when they signed Oubre Jr. to a minimum deal. He averaged over 20 points per game last season but the free agent got left in the cold. Philadelphia was ecstatic to land him at a bargain, and Oubre Jr. has not disappointed in the early going.

He was the team’s third-leading scorer through five games at 21.6 points each night before scoring just three in a blowout win over the Wizards on Monday night. Still, the 27-year-old is shooting 51.4 percent from the field, 41.4 percent on his threes, and a career-high 82.6 percent from the free throw line. Oubre Jr. has been a walking bucket and a crucial part of the 76ers fast start.

Philadelphia needs his scoring after the departure of James Harden. Hopefully, Kelly Oubre Jr. can keep it up because not every offseason signing is working out swimmingly for the Sixers so far. Having the reigning MVP makes up for a lot of that.