The Philadelphia 76ers are undoubtedly looking at a lost cause this season. While they are technically still in the running for at least a play-in tournament spot, they have not been able to close the gap for months already, and all signs point to the franchise having already accepted its fate in the present campaign.
But as we have repeatedly mentioned before, the 76ers still have legitimate reasons to look back on this season for purposes other than returning to a referential point. Amid what has been perhaps the most disappointing performances by a team in 2024-25, the team still managed to see some players emerge from the shadows while filling in for injured players and actually stand out.
Moving forward, the front office will not only need to be creative, but also highly cautious with their upcoming moves in the offseason. They cannot afford to make expensive miscalculations anymore, especially given how their books look for the foreseeable future thanks to the extremely lucrative deals they gave to Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey — two of those already looking murky at this juncture.
The 76ers could soon be troubled dealing with Kelly Oubre
One player the 76ers have to particularly take a closer look at is Kelly Oubre Jr., who has been a vital piece for the team for the last couple of seasons. The front office managed to snag him for really cheap during that period, but their days of induging themselves with such a bargain is coming to a close.
Oubre has an $8.4 million player option for next season, but he is very likely to decline that one in search of a bigger payday this year. And based on his play thus far, it is not improbable for him to command a relatively handsome contract.
The 76ers would not just let him go away so easily, but they could have a difficult time trying to strike a balance between keeping him in the fold and being mindful of their tight cap profile. Oubre will not be appeased with another bargain deal, yet the front office needs to avoid spending too much for a role player.
Given the alternatives that Philly actually has, such as Quentin Grimes and Justin Edwards, if the market for Oubre becomes too lucrative for the 76ers, moving away from him becomes a lot more palatable.
Still, Kelly Oubre Jr. has become so important to the Philadelphia 76ers on both ends despite his clear flaws, and losing him would sting. Hopefully, the front office can agree with him on terms both beneficial to his camp and the team at large.