Why Kelly Oubre Jr. could make or break the Philadelphia 76ers season

Kelly Oubre Jr. might be one of the most crucial signings of the offseason after adding Paul George and re-signing Tyrese Maxey. Philadelphia brought the dynamic forward once again on a team-friendly deal for the next two seasons, and they hope that their low-risk investment will amp up his chances for an NBA title this year.

Oubre performed admirably well as an instant scoring option and a defensive stalemate last season, averaging 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. The 76ers were outscoring opponents by 1.9 points per 100 possessions when Oubre was coming off the bench, per NBA.com. The former Hornets forward was forced into the starting lineup for 58 games despite the fact that he was signed as a backup option.

The Sixers were a minus-1.1 when he was on the floor, but most of it came when Philadelphia was struggling during mid-season with Joel Embiid and some other crucial pieces out. Oubre was forced to play a bigger role and perform adequately enough to be kept as a starter for the rest of the year, even when the team added additional depth in February.

In addition, he struggled with his own injuries and missed time after a car accident. Whatever the case, this season will be different. The 76ers intended to assemble a legitimate contender around Joel Embiid by using the previous season to clear space in their books and prepare for the summer of 2024. It will be Oubre's first time in his career to be a member of a squad that hopes to win a championship immediately. 

With Paul George on the court and Tyrese Maxey fresh off his first All-Star selection, Oubre will need to step up his game and perform well alongside NBA superstars. This means that his attacking touches will be minimized, while his defensive effort will be regarded more highly. In addition, he will have to play shooting guard with Paul George in the starting lineup.

Can Kelly Oubre Jr. be the 76ers starting shooting guard for 82+ games?

At 6'7, Oubre has the size and versatility to be a tweener in today's NBA. Nick Nurse employed the Kansas product as a shooting guard last season, even after the 76ers acquired Buddy Hield. The current Warriors' sharpshooter underperformed in the 76ers jersey, and Kelly Oubre was moved to shooting guard for a few games.

According to Basketball Reference, the Kansas standout played 21% of his time on the court as the secondary guard, dropped by the 57% he spent as a shooting guard when he was in Charlotte during the 2022-23 campaign. As a result, Oubre showcased his ability to guard wings, and was usually assigned to guard superstar players in the forward position.

With the new additions, the 76ers will hope to have a lengthy, but versatile lineup on the court for most of the time. Yet, Kelly Oubre Jr. will need to morph himself into an off-ball pest who can run around and guard smaller opponents on the perimeter. The 76ers followed the most recent trend of assembling sizeable wings, following the standard that other Eastern Conference powerhouses established.

Oubre will need to be on his heels and establish himself as the team's perimeter defender after building a reputation as an instant scoring option earlier in his career. If he can pull it off, the Sixers' prospects of winning the championship will be greatly increased.