After a ton of conflicting reports and general confusion on their preferred direction, the Philadelphia 76ers finally made up their mind, selecting Baylor product VJ Edgecombe with the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
The selection comes as no surprise given how much Bailey’s camp has turned off a lot of front offices with their antics disguised as pre-draft strategy. Now, the 76ers have settled with the safer route, arming them with an explosive, score-first guard who is perhaps the most athletic prospect in this year’s draft class.
With their draft pick now settled, Daryl Morey and his crew have to pivot to following this up with heady moves to commence their offseason in a productive manner. And to kick things off, one thing they have to do is officially part with this starter who has become rather obsolete following this recent development.
The 76ers need to move on from Kelly Oubre Jr. after drafting VJ Edgecombe
The 76ers ushering in Edgecombe gives the team ample reason to finally move on from Kelly Oubre Jr. The veteran forward has until June 29 to opt into his contract, which he seems to be inclined on doing, but Philly should still find a way to re-route his contract elsewhere.
Don’t get us wrong — Oubre has been a positive addition to Philly in the last couple of seasons. He managed to thrive as a complementary starter next to the big names on the team, and has been quite successful filling that role.
However, the 76ers do not need an energizer bunny with a crucial weakness at this point. His defensive acuity has greatly improved, but his sheer lack of a reliable presence from the perimeter simply cannot be ignored any longer.
Fortunately for the 76ers, finding a taker for Oubre should be a walk in the park. Teams with enough floor spacers should be very amenable to taking him in on a discount, as his skill set should stand out next to great shooters, which Philadelphia currently has a shortage of.
The Philadelphia 76ers have to be very deliberate with building the roster moving forward, and while it may not be a popular choice to many, moving on from Kelly Oubre Jr. will not only afford the team with more cap relief, but also an opportunity to rectify a clear roster issue, especially after the draft.