The Philadelphia 76ers will be forced to go back to the drawing board in the upcoming offseason. After turning in a wildly disappointing campaign, one that will most likely lead to them missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018, the front office will have no choice but to reevaluate the roster and perhaps, force the issue with regard to making drastic changes.
Free agency will once again be key for the 76ers to realize the changes possible with this roster as currently constructed. However, unlike last year where they were armed with the biggest financial machinery in the league, they will be entering the open market come summertime without much wiggle room. As a result, they have to get more creative — and equally persuasive — to lure in players that can address actual team needs.
For the 76ers, though, free agency will also be key to retain key players. A good number of their rotation cogs will hit the market this year, and it will be up to them to pull off the necessary financial gymnastics to ensure that those players don’t just walk away for nothing, weakening an already shallow team.
Daryl Morey’s overspending could cause the 76ers to miss out on re-signing Kelly Oubre Jr.
The 76ers are already over the cap and are flirting with the first apron which, under the new CBA, comes with a whole lot of new consequences — so vital that the front office did everything it can to preserve cap space before the trade deadline by parting with productive players.
Still, their actuations pale in comparison to the overspending Daryl Morey and his team pulled off before this season began. In fact, it could lead them to losing Kelly Oubre Jr. — one of the most important players on the roster.
Oubre is a near-lock to decline his $8.3 million player option for next season, especially in anticipation of a more lucrative payday after the strong season he’s been having thus far. The 76ers can bring him back, but it’s would nowhere be as seamless as it was last year.
This time around, Philly will also be doing everything it can to bring back two, equally important role players in Guerschon Yabusele and Quentin Grimes — both of whom tout less replaceable skill sets. And given the expected cost of keeping both, the 76ers could very well find themselves out of the running for Oubre.
Little by little, the reckless moves Daryl Morey made last summer will come back biting the Philadelphia 76ers. Possibly losing Kelly Oubre Jr. — who has been terrific for the franchise in the last couple of seasons — is just one of the many potential consequences awaiting them.