Philadelphia 76ers fans spent Monday morning debating Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond’s future with the team in light of Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer’s latest intel. People in favor of the 76ers keeping them looked all the wiser just hours later.
Philadelphia (24-21) fell apart against the Charlotte Hornets (19-28) 130-93 at Spectrum Center Monday afternoon. There were many reasons that the 76ers lost, but this game confirmed the importance of Oubre and Drummond’s presence. Oubre scored a team-high 17 points while Adem Bona struggled, relaying the belief that neither veteran should be moved for salary-cap relief.
The 76ers aren’t expected to have an eventful trade deadline on February 5th, but Oubre and Drummond’s expiring salaries could come into play. They are making $8.4 million and $5 million, respectively, as Philadelphia is just $1 million below the first tax apron. The team has developed a reputation for creating flexibility at the deadline and they could do so once more by shedding Oubre and/or Drummond.
While neither player is untouchable, the 76ers shouldn’t salary dump either if the move doesn’t raise their ceiling. While it’s easy to get discouraged by a 37-point loss, Philadelphia is still three games above .500 in an Eastern Conference that doesn’t have a clear-cut favorite. Even if the 76ers stand pat at the deadline, they have proven that they can be competitive when healthy and selling should not be on the table.
Oubre’s ability to scale up and down when needed is a luxury that Philadelphia cannot afford to lose with Embiid and George’s uncertain availability. He is also hitting his stride as of late, tallying 19.2 points on 50% shooting from three in his last five games. Between his refined scoring arsenal and intense energy, Philadelphia should only look to deal him for an upgrade or lateral move that nets it more flexibility.
Saddiq Bey and Naji Marshall are players who the 76ers should be interested in obtaining in a potential Oubre package. If Philadelphia ships him off, it would lose someone who can provide a spark on a team that is in desperate need of supplemental scoring outside of its core four.
Drummond finds himself in a similar situation after receiving a promotion this afternoon. He started in Embiid’s place despite Bona inheriting most of Philadelphia’s backup center minutes lately. Drummond’s performance was a mixed bag, posting four points, seven rebounds and two blocks as he struggled in drop coverage. Bona’s production, however, highlighted the importance of Drummond’s role.
The sophomore once again dealt with lacking foul discipline and judgment lapses, which outweighed his three stocks. There are matchups where the 76ers should rely on Bona over Drummond, but his situational impact proves he is not ready to be their full-time backup center. If Philadelphia does deal Drummond, it must receive another big.