Kelly Oubre Jr. could be one of the most pivotal signings of the offseason after the arrival of Paul George and the re-hiring of Tyrese Maxey. Philadelphia re-signed the dynamic player on a team-friendly deal for the next two seasons, and they hope their low-risk investment will boost his chances of winning an NBA title this year.
Oubre performed admirably as an instant scoring option and defender last season, averaging 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists. The 76ers outscored opponents by 1.9 points per 100 possessions when Oubre came off the bench, according to NBA.com. The former Hornets forward was forced into the starting lineup for 58 games despite being signed as a backup option.
The Sixers were -1.1 when he was on the court, but most of that came when Philadelphia was struggling in the middle of the season with Joel Embiid and other key pieces missing. Oubre was forced into a bigger role and played well enough to be retained as a starter for the rest of the season, even as the team added depth in February.
Plus, he’s had to deal with his own injuries and a car accident. Regardless, this season will be different. The 76ers were intent on assembling a legitimate contender around Joel Embiid by using the previous season to clear room on their books and prepare for the summer of 2024. This will be the first time in his career that Oubre will be on a team that hopes to win a championship right away.
With Paul George on the field and Tyrese Maxey Fresh off his first All-Star selection, Oubre will need to step up his game and perform well alongside NBA superstars. That means his offensive touches will be minimized, while his defensive efforts will be more highly regarded. Additionally, he will need to play guard with Paul George in the starting eleven.
At 6-foot-10, Oubre has the size and versatility to play in today’s NBA. Nick Nurse used the Kansas product as a shooting guard last season, even after the 76ers acquired Buddy Hield. The current Warriors sharpshooter underperformed in a 76ers jersey, and Kelly Oubre was moved to shooting guard for a few games.
According to Basketball Reference, the Kansas star played 21 percent of his time on the court as a secondary guard, compared to 57 percent as a shooting guard while in Charlotte during the 2022-23 campaign. As a result, Oubre showed his ability to defend the wings and was typically assigned to defend star players at the forward position.
With the new additions, the 76ers hope to have a long, but versatile range He’s on the court most of the time. Still, Kelly Oubre Jr. will have to transform into an off-ball scourge capable of running and defending smaller opponents on the perimeter. The 76ers have followed the latest trend of assembling big wings, following the standard set by other Eastern Conference powers.
Oubre will need to be on his heels and establish himself as the team’s center fielder after establishing a reputation as an instant scorer earlier in his career. If he can do that, the Sixers’ chances of winning the championship will be greatly increased.
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