The Philadelphia 76ers will aproach the 2024-25 season as the creme de la creme of the offseason, a fact that cannot be disputed given the way the franchise drastically changed its prospects as a previously wannabe title contender. This time, expectations are as solid as ever, and the team certainly touts potential to bag the Larry O’Brien trophy next year.
However, while teams like the 76ers took a leap, some took a nosedive. The Golden State Warriors, in particular, have turned in an objectively underwhelming summer, at least from the standards of those who have witnessed their dominance until they started their strings of faux pas. And apparently, Philly had a hand in their botched offseason.
76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. deemed partly responsible for the Warriors’ underwhelming offseason
Golden State did not only lose franchise pillar Klay Thompson, but they also missed out on several trades (including one involving Paul George, who ended up with the 76ers) that could have cemented their footing in the Western Conference arms race.
One name linked during free agency as a trade possibility was All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, but according to some from the Warriors intelligentsia, 76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. had an indirect hand in them taking a more conservative route, much to the detriment of their fans who wanted the franchise to push the win-now button as hard as they can while Stephen Curry is still playing at an incredible level. NBS Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole had this to say:
Lacob, according to league sources, was a loud voice – the “driving force,” according to one – in favor of trading for Oubre. So much so that it didn’t matter that this would double Golden State’s luxury tax bill. Oubre’s one season cost the Warriors more than $80 million in salary and luxury taxes.
Every move since, including the addition of Chris Paul last summer, was made to supplement the roster rather than expand its core. Much of that approach is related to the Oubre experience. No longer are the Warriors willing to jeopardize their bottom line, sacrifice a bundle of draft picks or disrupt their roster for anyone who doesn’t rate a consensus.
Oubre certainly had a not-so-memorable stint in Golden State, as he simply proved to be a dangling fit within their unique offensive dynamic. He was gone after only a full season and headed to Charlotte where he spent two campaigns before landing in Philly last year.
Unfortunately for the Warriors, their golden run seems to be truly over. Their 2021 championship, at this point, seems like distant memory.
Meanwhile, while Kelly Oubre Jr. keeps haunting them in their dreams, the Philadelphia 76ers only stand to benefit from his renewed mojo as a more all-around cog who can do other things than just score, unlike in the past.