There are only about four weeks left before the 2025 NBA trade deadline. Thus, the Philadelphia 76ers, among other teams, must move with more aggression and urgency on the market if they really want to make changes to the roster ahead of a heated playoff race in the Eastern Conference.
Currently, the 76ers boast a 15-20 record that has them seated just outside the play-in tournament picture at 11th place in the East. They are still trending in the right direction after a disastrous start to their campaign, but they cannot just bank on sheer momentum to keep them going, especially given that they have already hit somewhat of a rough patch to begin the calendar year.
In addition, Philly has some overly glaring issues that must be addressed if they want to make life more comfortable for their stars, two of which have been especially struggling with efficiency this season. Their three-point shooting as a team stands out as a critical area that must be solved; otherwise, they may not be able to fully maximize their offensive repertoire.
The underrated reason why the 76ers should remain open to trading Kelly Oubre Jr.
Kelly Oubre Jr. was a big part of the 76ers’ regular season success last season, reason for him to be the recipient of a two-year extension with the team during the offseason. He has largely ben the same player this time around, arming the team with a wildcard scorer who can quickly get hot from anywhere and provide some length on defense.
Unfortunately, that “anywhere” does not include the three-point territory. Oubre has never been a high-percentage three-point shooter, but his decline on that end this season has been very pronounced. The 76ers clearly need snipers to surround their stars and give them more room to operate, and the 10-year veteran has simply failed to provide that.
Shooting a career-low 28.1 percent from rainbow country, Oubre has become nearly negligible from beyond the arc. Teams have been willing to sag off him and double down on Philly’s main scorers, limiting his utlity on that end. When he’s not hitting shots inside the arc, his only purpose has been to provide length on the defensive end.
Sure, Oubre has emerged as one of the better defenders on the roster, but non-shooting defensive-minded players are traditionally easy to scheme against and take away from the hardwood in the playoffs. If he doesn’t improve his stroke moving forward, the Philadelphia 76ers have to seriously consider seeking an upgrade at his expense on the trade market.