In recent days, the Philadelphia 76ers fanbase has finally received some positive news that has created a sense of optimism for the upcoming campaign -- Joel Embiid took part in the Sixers' in-house scrimmage. Head coach Nick Nurse revealed that Embiid will occupy a forward spot this year during certain matchups, which could cast a doubt over the future of Kelly Oubre Jr.
Oubre Jr. has quietly become an essential part of the Sixers' roster over the last year. The injury woes that plagued the franchise allowed the 29-year-old to be granted an enhanced role on both sides of the ball, albeit with mixed results.
However, Philadelphia's head coach has declared that his team will aim to field a lineup that includes both Embiid and the athletic sophomore Adem Bona. In addition, the 76ers finally confirmed the reacquisition of Quentin Grimes in recent weeks, suggesting that Oubre's minutes could be heavily reduced this year.
Oubre Jr. could fall victim to the Embiid experiment
Despite being one of the most dominant centers in a generation, Joel Embiid's position change could pay dividends in relation to his health. Philadelphia has placed a significant amount of responsibility on the 2023 Most Valuable Player to lead the charge in both the offensive and defensive game plans throughout his career. Having the energetic Bona to aid Embiid in both rebounding and rim protection should prevent the 32-year-old from putting an immense level of strain on his body.
If Nurse is serious about protecting his prized asset, then Bona will have to remain on the floor for a substantial amount of time -- if the young center can stay out of foul trouble. When Paul George is healthy, and with the backcourt rotation of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Grimes, Oubre's place in the Sixers' rotation does come into question.
Even though he displayed a resilient attitude to feature during 60 games in a disastrous season for Philadelphia, the Kansas graduate did exhibit flaws on offense that could make him expendable in the eyes of Nick Nurse.
Oubre Jr. averaged 15.1 points and 6.1 points per game, but did not cover himself when it came to his levels of efficiency. He recorded a worrying 29.3% from deep -- his lowest total since his 2016-17 campaign with the Washington Wizards.
Versatile forward still has much to offer
To suggest that Oubre's future is a foregone conclusion would be a foolish statement. The versatile forward has demonstrated that he possesses defensive attributes and an impressive work rate, which will be vital in matchups where the 76ers are perceived as the underdogs.
During the 2024-25 season, Oubre established himself as an underrated perimeter defender while also registering a career-high in steals per game (1.5). He also recorded a career-high eight steals during a single game against the Portland Trailblazers on December 30, 2024.
A Joel Embiid and Adem Bona partnership would hypothetically solve problems that have hindered the Philadelphia 76ers' championship credentials for several seasons. However, does this experimental tweak come at the expense of Kelly Oubre Jr.?