Philadelphia 76ers re-sign Kelly Oubre Jr. to stellar two-year/$16.3 million contract

The Philadelphia 76ers are retaining wing Kelly Oubre Jr. on a two-year/$16.3 million contract that involves a player option for the 2025-2026 season via ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Salary cap implications of Kelly Oubre Jr. signing

Kelly Oubre Jr. was likely signed with the room mid-level exception (approximately worth $8 million), a tool given to teams like the 76ers, who are below the salary cap. If so, that would mean Philadelphia inked a two-year deal with Andre Drummond utilizing their cap space.

With the 76ers now utilizing a sliver of their estimated $58 million in cap space and the room mid-level exception, it gives more of a reason to believe that Philadelphia is looking to shed Paul Reed’s non-guaranteed $7.7 million annual salary in an attempt to sign Paul George to a max contract.

A fluid situation in Philadelphia

Order of events

1. Maximize cap space first

2. Sign Maxey

3. Sign Oubre Jr. and the minimums

Philadelphia likely goes from a cap space team to a possible tax team. pic.twitter.com/tj9tCSaAbE

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 1, 2024

Following Kelly Oubre Jr’s return, the 76ers are projected to have $50.5 million in cap room, which would likely be more than enough to ink Paul George to the reported four-year/$212 million deal.

Being on a 1+1 deal, Kelly Oubre Jr. has a chance to build off his strong 2023-2024 campaign and increase his value in order to receive a larger and more long-term contract next offseason, whether that be in Philadelphia or elsewhere.

How Kelly Oubre Jr. blossomed with 76ers

After signing to the 76ers on a mere veteran minimum deal right before training camp for the 2023-2024 season, Kelly Oubre Jr. re-invented himself from a player who can stuff the stat sheet on lottery teams to a legit rotational player on a contending team.

With the help of Nick Nurse, who Kelly Oubre Jr. called a rockstar, the 76ers forward honed in on his drive-and-kick game and point-of-attack defense, while maintaining consistent aggression as a slasher.

Oubre’s ability to use his rim gravity to create offense for others and utilization of his lateral quickness evolved him into a quality two-way wing, despite his lackluster perimeter shooting.

While Oubre wasn’t technically the 76ers’ third option, his ability to cut from the back-door made him a great fit next to Joel Embiid and his ability to get to the basket and score as well as draw contact kept Philadelphia afloat in non-Embiid/Maxey minutes numerous times.

Oubre averaged 15.4 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game on 53.5% true-shooting with the 76ers this past season.

In honor of Kelly Oubre resigning:pic.twitter.com/FzpUr9WvPe

— Jacob Moreno (@jmoreno76ers) July 1, 2024

Xs and Os aside, Kelly Oubre Jr. brought a contagious energy to Philadelphia both on the court and in terms of chemistry that quickly made him a fan favorite amongst 76ers fans.

Whether it was a quick flex after an emphatic dunk or cursing out a referee, Oubre’s gave great vibes that Philadelphia is surely thrilled to have back at least another season.

As the NBA awaits Paul George’s free agency decision following his meeting with the 76ers, Philadelphia’s front office has done a stellar job of adding quality rotational pieces around Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in Kelly Oubre Jr, Andre Drummond, and Eric Gordon.

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