4 76ers Playing Their Final Postseason in Philadelphia
By Cem Yolbulan
4. Kelly Oubre Jr.
It was a massive surprise to plenty of NBA fans to see Kelly Oubre Jr. sign a minimum contract last offseason. He had averaged 20 points per game the season prior with the Charlotte Hornets and still struggled to find a team to play for.
He turned out to be a great offseason addition to the Sixers. Is he as good of a player as his scoring averages indicate? No. But you will be hard-pressed to find a more productive veteran on a minimum contract.
Under Nick Nurse's stewardship, Oubre took on a larger defensive role. He is regularly tasked with guarding the best ball handler on the opposing team. He doesn't necessarily lock anyone up, but he doesn't get overwhelmed either. It's not like there are much better options on this team to defend high-level offensive guards.
Plus, he has been more active on the defensive end in general, contributing 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. Add his shot creation and scoring ability, and you have a decent rotation player.
One aspect of his game that Oubre struggled with is his three-point shot. He once again shot below 33 percent from three, making him a liability off-ball at times. But he makes up for it with his cuts and finishes around the rim.
The Sixers would like to keep Oubre for another season but it's hard to see how that is possible financially. The 28-year-old may have played himself out of a contract with the Sixers. Now that he has shown the league that he can be a contributor on a good playoff team, he will have far more offers this summer than last.
Regardless of how many of these players don't come back next season, the Sixers have a chance to do something special in the playoffs. They currently have the third-best odds in the Eastern Conference (+800) to make the NBA Finals. Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook now to take advantage of these odds and don't forget to claim your $200 in bonus bets after your first winning wager.
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