The Philadelphia 76ers are set to sign 27-year-old lefty wing Kelly Oubre Jr. to a one-year contract, according to a source. This news was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, while PHLY Sports’ Derek Bodner revealed that Oubre’s deal is for the veteran’s minimum salary.
Oubre had a breakout season last year, averaging a career-high 20.3 points per game in a role with a high usage rate for the Charlotte Hornets. He has proven himself to be a capable scorer. Additionally, his 7-foot-2 wingspan and athleticism make him a valuable asset on the defensive end. According to Cleaning the Glass, Oubre has consistently had an above-average steal rate for his position since his rookie year.
However, Oubre has some weaknesses in his game, particularly in terms of efficiency, consistency, and passing. He only averaged 1.1 assists per game last season and converted just 31.9 percent of his three-point attempts. Throughout his career, Oubre has been a 33.0 percent shooter from beyond the arc, with his best shooting season coming in at 35.2 percent.
It has been a while since Oubre has played in the playoffs, with his only NBA postseason experience coming during his time with the Washington Wizards in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. Despite uncertainty surrounding James Harden’s potential trade request, the Sixers are confident in their ability to make the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season and contend for a championship with the help of their reigning MVP, Joel Embiid.
Once the signing of Oubre is official, the Sixers’ roster will reach the offseason limit of 21 players. However, they will need to trim down to 18 players (15 regular contract players and three players on two-way contracts) before the start of the regular season. The team has other wing options to consider, including Danuel House Jr., Furkan Korkmaz, and Danny Green, who is on a non-guaranteed contract. Notable departures from the team include Georges Niang and Jalen McDaniels, who were both free agents.
New head coach Nick Nurse will have the task of evaluating his options when the team begins training camp on October 3rd at Colorado State University.