For better or for worse, the Philadelphia 76ers will enter the 2025-26 season parading the exact same nucleus as last season, when they turned in the fifth-worst record in the entire association. That is most certainly going to attract a lot of naysayers, even though injury issues fully prevented last year’s squad from developing any semblance of team chemistry and rhythm.
But having said that, the front office managed to usher in some new faces to fill the roster on the margins. One player whom the 76ers managed to bring in is incoming fourth-year forward Jabari Walker, who somehow fell to their laps on a two-way contract. As we called it right from the get-go, it was a daylight robbery.
Walker has been an under the radar yet solid rotation player for the Trail Blazers over the last three years, although he saw his court time dwindle last season. Still, a two-way deal is easily a tremendous bargain for a player who has already some tenureship behind him. Even better, he plays a position of need for Philly.
At 6’9”, the Colorado product is a natural forward who provides a lot of size in the position. With the 76ers needing rangy bodies in the front court, he could force his way into the rotation next season even while being on a two-way contract.
Jabari Walker could force the 76ers to finally trade Kelly Oubre Jr.
If Walker ends up becoming more than just a paper tiger, the 76ers front office will be even more incentivized to part with the erratic Kelly Oubre Jr. via trade. The team has yet to seriously shop him in the trade market, but with Justin Edwards, Trendon Watford, and Walker in the fold, there is little reason for the team to cling onto the clearly flawed veteran.
Oubre, who is on an expiring deal, should fetch some interest in the league, especially from those looking to be in the playoff loop. His weaknesses have not been covered up in Philadelphia, but other squads with much better perimeter shooting across the board should be able to free up his game even more by alleviating his lack of a reliable presence out in the perimeter.
People are already calling for the 76ers to trade Oubre who, despite being a positive addition to the franchise in the last couple of years, has become emblematic of what has gone wrong for the team during the same period on the hardwood.
Hopefully, Jabari Walker ends up becoming a handy depth piece to the effect that the Philadelphia 76ers will finally listen to their fans and drop the hammer on Kelly Oubre Jr.