The Philadelphia 76ers still had the makings of a contender entering the year, but few expected them to come out of the gates as strong as they have. Joel Embiid has been Joel Embiid (but even better) and Tyrese Maxey has made THAT leap, but one of, if not the biggest reason for the team’s brilliant start to the season has been the across-the-board contributions from their role players.
One of those key pieces is Kelly Oubre Jr., whose impressive tenure in Philly so far has been nothing short of impressive. Signed to a minimum, prove-it deal last offseason after facing a dearth of suitors, the swingman has turned his perception around and seems poised to command a hefty sum next year.
That brings us to this question: should the 76ers bring him back next season?
Should the 76ers bring Kelly Oubre back next season?
By most accounts, the 76ers should absolutely do their earnest to keep Kelly Oubre next season. He’s proven to be a great fit in Nick Nurse’s offense and has done a great job taking off the pressure from the team’s primary options as a resident gunner off the bench and a quality spot starter. He also hasn’t been a liability on defense unlike in his previous stops.
That being said, his fate in Philly will probably be decided by his market value. Should he prove to be too expensive of a retainer, the 76ers may prefer to consolidate their cap space and funnel it for a huge acquisition while filling out the roster with minimum signings, as they have done last summer. Otherwise, the front office would be foolish to let him go.
Realistically speaking though, it’s likely that the 76ers’ intention to bring him back may not even matter in the grand scheme of things. Oubre will definitely have suitors who can pay him at a higher premium, and he will — and should — prioritize money over fit at this stage of his career.
Of course, the Philadelphia 76ers should do whatever it takes to retain Kelly Oubre Jr.’s services beyond this year. Thta’s simply due diligence. But as long as he keeps up this level of production, don’t bank on the franchise managing to keep him next year if they truly embark on a pricey free agency spree.