The Philadelphia 76ers are back to clinging for their lives in the playoffs as they now face a 0-2 deficit in their semis affair against the Knicks. As such, it might be time for the front office to start accelerating their plan of action in the coming offseason, especially since a bunch of the players currently on the roster are set to hit the open market. One of those cogs is Kelly Oubre Jr., who is sure to garner strong interest from the other teams as well.
Oubre's perceived value among the fanbase has wavered so much in recent years since stepping foot in Philly that really, there is no telling if he will remain on the roster next season. However, if there is one thing clear, it is that the 76ers clearly value his contributions on the hardwood, and that will go a long way for those desirous to keep him in the fold beyond this campaign.
It remains to be seen whether or not the veteran's camp will become amenable to another relative discount this summer, but suffice to say that at this juncture, the 76ers front office will not be shy about expressing their interest in getting him to return on a new deal. After all, the team continues to hand him a prominent role on the squad, which is emblematic of the collective sentiment about how important he is to the organization.
The 76ers are most likely going to try to re-sign Kelly Oubre Jr. in free agency
Oubre turned in arguably his most impactful season as a pro this year from a two-way standpoint. He has averaged much loftier raw numbers in the past, but his utility has gone up even more in this campaign. He shot a career-high 36 percent from three-point range while playing stout defense on a nightly basis. As such, it is no surprise that Nick Nurse and his corps keep on relying on Oubre heavily.
That kind of production, however, functions as a double-edged sword. After all, it only bolsters his price tag, and the 76ers are not exactly abundant with financial ammo given their very muddled, top-heavy payroll. Be that as it may, the team owns his Bird rights, meaning that they can go over the cap to retain his services if they want to.
In all honesty, though, the team cannot afford to let Oubre walk away for nothing. They have already resisted calls to trade him ahead of free agency, although that is merely the tip of the iceberg. More importantly, he has proven himself to be too critical of a piece for this squad, as his skill set (which now features tolerable three-point shooting and actual defensive acuity) bodes well for the team's star players.
At this juncture, one should already pencil the 76ers in as the favored landing spot for Kelly Oubre Jr. The financial gymnastics required are not yet firm at the present, but it is tough to envision a scenario where both camps head toward a divorce.
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