The Philadelphia 76ers remain engaged in a war of attrition to end the regular season, although the most likely outcome for this group is a play-in tournament berth. They are projected to have two cracks to sneak into the playoffs and snap a one-year sabbatical.
Be that as it may, the front office also has ample reasons to look forward to the offseason even at this juncture, especially since 10 of the players on their roster will be hitting the open market this summer.
One of those impending free agents is Kelly Oubre Jr. The 11-year veteran has been having a splendid season for the 76ers this year, and with each passing day, it is becoming more obvious that the front office has no other choice but to re-sign him this offseason. Unfortunately, coming to terms with his camp on a new deal will not be a walk in the park.
The 76ers have to re-sign Kelly Oubre Jr. this offseason, but it won't be easy
Oubre has registered better raw numbers in a single season before, but his impact on the 76ers this season has arguably been the biggest yet of his career. He has become very comfortable functioning as a malleable piece for Nick Nurse, fitting in nicely into various lineup configurations and different roles.
With only one game remaining on their slate, the veteran has averaged 14.5 points, five rebounds, and 1.3 steals per outing. The best part about his offensive game is his three-point shooting, as he has drained 36.4 percent of his triples –– easily a career-best mark for the career 32.8 percent shooter.
On the defensive end, Oubre's length and activity gives him a lot of utility. He has emerged as a bona fide stopper for the 76ers, something that has persisted and improved since stepping foot in Philly three years ago.
The 76ers are now built in such fashion that losing Oubre would be disruptive for the way they operate on both ends. But having said that, there is also a tenable argument against the team handing him a handsome pay raise.
As a complementary piece, Oubre is not exactly of the irreplaceable kind. While there are not a lot of players who are capable of adapting to any kind of role and heft of scoring load, there are better perimeter operators out in the market. Defense is also cheaper to invest in, and getting stoppers is not as difficult as it seems.
All in all, the 76ers will face a dilemma with Kelly Oubre this summer. Obviously, the team should want him back, but suffice to say that things are going to be more complicated this time compared to the two previous summers.