Kelly Oubre Jr. is far from an offensive powerhouse. When discussing the forward's fit with the Indiana Pacers on the Third Apron podcast, Yossi Gozlan stated, "I thought they could use a little more of a [shooting] specialist, but Oubre is going to be a great addition there." The 30-year-old may never be the face of a franchise, but his electric energy makes him a disruptive defensive force -- something that the Philadelphia 76ers need from their secondary unit.
Kelly Oubre's time in Philadelphia deserves more respect
Kelly Oubre was an underappreciated option during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers. He was never acquired to be a star on the roster, but his energy and reliability made him a huge asset for the franchise.
Throughout his stint in Philadelphia, Oubre's development as a perimeter defender was nothing short of outstanding. His dog-like mentality and impressive athleticism provided a different dynamic to the 76ers' defense. Unfortunately for the Kansas alum, his teammates failed to stay healthy -- propelling him into an offensive role that he never intended to play.
This was never more evident than during the Sixers' injury-plagued 2024-25 campaign, as Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey each battled ailments that limited their availability. In some ways, Oubre was his worst enemy by refusing to shy away from his team's struggles and accepting a more prominent offensive role.
While his determination was admirable, it highlighted the major flaws in his skill set. Most notably, his inefficiency from deep -- especially when acting as the primary ball handler. Oubre averaged a woeful 29.3% from beyond the arc. This was far from the 76ers' biggest problem that season, but by continuing to put himself in the spotlight, he was an easy target for many critics.
On the current roster, alongside a group of versatile players who all want the ball in their hands, Oubre could have assumed a role he was born to play: an impact forward who can sporadically contribute on offense. However, financial constraints signaled the end of his time in Philadelphia.
76ers had no choice but to sacrifice Oubre
For this squad to make sense financially, Mike Gansey had to make several tough decisions. As it stands, every choice he made seems to have worked out perfectly. Of course, the season hasn't even started, so it would be premature to hand him the Executive of the Year award, but when a franchise lands LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in one window, it's difficult not to jump the gun.
To afford such stars, the remainder of the roster had to be constructed with savvy players who would not absorb a high percentage of the team's salary cap. Compared to other frontcourt options on the 76ers' payroll, such as Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker, Kelly Oubre was simply too expensive to bring back.
Oubre signed a two-year, $16.5 million contract with the Indiana Pacers during the offseason, which is a relatively cheap contract in the lucrative world of the NBA. Nevertheless, this was around $8 million a year more than Philadelphia could afford to pay, due to the arrival of LeBron and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope pushing the franchise to the brink of the first apron hard cap.
Even with the impressive roster changes the 76ers have made under Mike Gansey, it is difficult to deny the impact Kelly Oubre Jr. could still have. Yossi Gozlan is right to point out that the forward isn't an elite offensive talent, but his contagious energy on the floor would have been a huge asset in Philadelphia.
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