The Philadelphia 76ers may have gotten booted out of the playoffs in the most unceremonious fashion, but the grind will not stop for the people in the organization. While the postseason remains raging on, the offseason has technically already begun for the franchise, and a lot of crucial decisions will be incumbent upon them to answer sooner than later. Case in point? Look no further than the free agency situation surrounding Kelly Oubre Jr.
Oubre will be hitting the open market anew this summer. But what makes things different this time around is that it is unlikely for the 76ers to get lucky with another market-forced discount to retain the veteran forward's services. That being said, this team simply cannot afford to lose Oubre, and for that reason, it is a non-negotiable for the front office to be aggressive in trying to come to terms with his camp on a new deal.
Oubre will undoubtedly fetch considerable interest in the market this offseason, especially with the kind of individual campaign he just had. He arguably turned in his most impactful season from a two-way standpoint, draining threes at a career-high rate and becoming a highly competent defender for the 76ers. Those factors will give the team more competition for his services.
The 76ers have to do whatever it takes to keep Kelly Oubre Jr. in the offseason
Given how the 76ers operate and are constructed, it should be a no-brainer for the front office to double down on trying to re-up Oubre. After all, apart from him emerging as one of the better three-and-D role players in the league, he is simply a perfect fit next to what this team has.
Philadelphia has two of the most injury-prone stars in the league, which makes having an emergency scorer like Oubre who has a track record of being successful in assuming more prominent scoring posts all the more important. There is also a lot of flexibility that comes with having him in the fold thanks to his ability to play as a shooting guard and both forward positions.
On defense, he is capable of guarding one through four –– a vital component which proved to be instrumental during their rousing 3-1 comeback against the Boston Celtics in the first round.
Keeping Oubre could prove to be a costly escapade compared to the last two years, but the eccentric forward has already become so entrenched in the 76ers' collective DNA that letting him walk away for nothing should not be an option despite the ugly exit they saw in the playoffs. He might have his red flags, but all players do. And for this team, he is especially indispensable.