The Philadelphia 76ers have to brace for the possibility that they will lose Kelly Oubre Jr. this offseason. The veteran forward is due for a considerable pay raise this summer, and free agency will most certainly serve as that much-needed platform for him to recoup the money he has missed out on after allowing the team to get away with a couple of bargain bin deals in recent years.
As such, the front office should already be on the lookout for his potential replacement. To that effect, one name they could take a look at is Sandro Mamukelashvili, who quietly had a breakout season for the Raptors this season. The Georgian big man even garnered some votes for Sixth Man of the Year, which underscores his impact for a Toronto squad that surprised a lot of people in this campaign.
Obviously, Mamukelashvili is of a different ilk than Oubre. However, he stands to command a more modest salary than the latter, and given his skill set, the 76ers should be allured enough by what he can bring to the table as another versatile piece who can play multiple positions.
The 76ers could target Sandro Mamukelashvili in free agency as a possible Kelly Oubre Jr. replacement
After languishing on the Spurs bench for the last three years, Mamukelashvili found a home with the Raptors. In his fifth year as a pro, he registered career-highs across the board, averaging 11.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per outing in just under 22 minutes a night. Head coach Darko Rajakovic trusted him a lot, and he certainly rewarded their confidence by becoming an effective Sixth Man.
Oubre, who has become, a two-way impact player for Philly, is vastly different from Mamukelashvili. For starters, he is a much better defender and is more mobile on both ends. Having said that, the Seton Hall product has his own edges over the veteran.
Mamukelashvili shot nearly 39 percent from three-point range this season, which is an attractive tidbit the 76ers would love to have for a big man. He is also an underrated passer for his position, and he seems to always make the right reads on the offensive end. Sure, his defensive acuity might be lacking, but he makes up for it with effort, physicality, and finesse on offense.
The 76ers front office has to be extra-creative in free agency, especially with someone as important as Kelly Oubre being a flight risk. In the occasion that he walks away for nothing, Sandro Mamukelashvili has all the tools he needs to soften the blow for the team and then some.
