The Philadelphia 76ers must trade Kelly Oubre Jr. before the Feb. 5 deadline to dodge the luxury tax. They are currently almost $7 million above the tax line, and getting below saves them millions of dollars. The Sixers are excited about Joel Embiid entering the season healthy, but it is difficult to believe he stays on the floor. Philly’s best bet is ducking the tax and hoping they can still reach the playoffs.
The 76ers shopped Oubre Jr. this offseason, but couldn’t find a deal. He is on an $8.3 million expiring contract. That will have suitors before the deadline, especially if the veteran’s play improves. He produced a negative-0.1 value over replacement player (VORP) last season amid the team’s nightmare year. Fans know he will get buckets, but his shooting and defense remain question marks for a team looking to seriously contend.
The Sixers are light at the power forward position. Paul George’s health is suspect, and they have no other trusted options. Trading Oubre Jr. would mean embracing going small, but that is what the franchise should do for their long-term health.
76ers need to trade Kelly Oubre Jr. before the deadline
Dumping Oubre’s contract allows Daryl Morey and the front office to avoid the repeater tax for years to come. They were just under in the 2024-25 season and should be again. VJ Edgecombe has superstar potential, and Tyrese Maxey is already an All-Star. Philadelphia should look to spend when those two are ready to lead a contender. Staying out of the tax now makes the penalties less strict in the early years of that window.
Even with a healthy Embiid, the 76ers are not title contenders. They would love to make the playoffs and win one round. That is the best-case scenario. It is a brutal reality that should have everyone looking at the future over the present.
Oubre Jr. averaged 15.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 steals in 34.6 minutes per game last season. He shot 47.0 percent from the field, but just 29.3 percent on his 3-point attempts. It was a dreadful season for Philly, which inflated some of his numbers and crushed his advanced metrics.
The Sixers hope Oubre Jr. shoots well to begin the season and holds his own defensively. That will give Philly a chance to sell high and dodge the tax. The 76ers don’t want to give up draft capital to dump his contract. It may be their only option if his play doesn’t improve, but that is the nightmare scenario.
The Philadelphia 76ers hope things turn around. They thought they would be competing for the championship after signing Paul George. Instead, PG and Embiid currently have two of the worst contracts in the NBA. There is still plenty of Sixers fans to be excited about. They must dodge the tax and build around their three exciting young guards. That is the path to contention, and it means dumping Kelly Oubre Jr. as soon as possible.