4. Kelly Oubre Jr. stays put with the 76ers
Kelly Oubre Jr. was arguably the league’s best minimum signing last season, easily outplaying his contract with his consistent play all season long as the 76ers’ resident bailout fireball. Juggling between a starting and bench role, the 28-year-old flourished in a more streamlined role on the scoring end, culminating in a new, two-year deal to remain in Philly.
The 76ers still face some scarcity on the forward position, making Oubre’s staying act a very welcome move, especially in light of Nicolas Batum’s confirmed exit from the team. It’s unclear what his role would be with George already in the fold to man the starting role, but he should nonetheless remain a pivotal part of Nick Nurse’s deck.
That Philly managed to convince him to remain at an annual valuation of just around $8 million should be lauded. After all, the market was expected to be richer for him this offseason. Instead, the 76ers get to keep a valuable role player who showcased a more mature offensive game and exhibited more willingness and resistance on the defensive end.
Grade: A+