Should Nets Sign 76ers F Kelly Oubre Jr. in Free Agency?

Philadelphia 76ers forward Kelly Oubre Jr. is hitting the open market in free agency searching for a payday, and ESPN's Bobby Marks believes the Brooklyn Nets are a fit for the 30-year-old.

Oubre Jr. earned $8.38 million in the final season of his two-year, $16.37 million deal. It was a $7-8 million raise compared to the one-year, $2.9 million contract he signed with Philadelphia in 2023.

Marks wrote that the deal he'd offer is a three-year, $40.5 million contract. The average annual salary would be $13.5 million, which is $2.6 million under the non-taxpayer mid-level exception for the 2026 fiscal year.

Oubre Jr. would return to the salary range he was paid from 2019-2022 ($12-15 million). However, the 30-year-old understands the struggles of free agency, even after performing well.

"I love it here, of course, but it's not my first rodeo," Oubre Jr. told reporters on May 10. "I've averaged 20 points in this league and still found myself barely getting any contracts, right?"

The 6-foot-8 forward referenced his final season with the Charlotte Hornets when he averaged 20.3 points. Oubre Jr. can score the ball, but he's displayed the ability to scale down as a role player with the 76ers.

He's played next to Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey -- stars who handle the ball a majority of the game. Oubre Jr. averaged 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in three seasons at Philadelphia. 

One flaw in his game is three-point shooting. He's a streaky shooter, having inconsistent stretches of good and bad games. However, last season was a career year for him.

Oubre Jr. shot 36% from beyond the arc on 4.8 attempts. Despite his best shooting percentage, the playoffs displayed his streaky shooting once more.

He shot 16% in the seven-game series against the Boston Celtics, but 42.9% in the New York Knicks series when they got swept. Oubre Jr. may be an inconsistent three-point shooter, but he is an athletic wing.

The 30-year-old can attack the rim with a quick first step and finish with a ferocious dunk. Many teams value athleticism, and when paired with range, players transform into the most coveted archetype: a 3-and-D player.

Spotrac's Keith Smith projects Brooklyn to have $44.6 million in cap space this summer. The Nets would be able to offer Oubre Jr. the contract Marks suggested and still have ample room to sign other players. 

Oubre Jr. is an athletic wing who can defend, rebound and shoot the ball. He'd upgrade Brooklyn's wing rotation and serve as a veteran for the many young players on the roster. 

Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.

Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!