Tag: jr

2024 NBA free agency: Report: Kelly Oubre, Jr. to re-sign with Sixers nba,free,agency,report,kelly,oubre,jr,to,re,sign,with,sixers,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-free-agency,76ers-news

On: By: admin


To think there were people that were actually upset when the Sixers brought in Kelly Oubre, Jr. on a minimum deal.

Now the veteran wing has earned himself a raise. Oubre will re-sign with the Sixers on a two-year, $16.3 million deal with a player option for 2025-26, a source confirms to Liberty Ballers. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to report the news.

A roller coaster has less twists and turns than the last year for Oubre. After his market dried up last summer, he chose to sign with the Sixers at the veteran’s minimum. He parted ways with agent Torrel Harris and looked to take advantage of his new opportunity in Philly.

And he did just that.

Oubre went from sort of an afterthought signing to an integral cog in the Sixers’ rotation. There were incidents along the way — when Oubre fractured a rib when he was struck by a car back in November or when he totaled his Lamborghini after a playoff game — but he ultimately showed his value to the team. With Joel Embiid out and Tobias Harris struggling, Oubre proved to be the Sixers’ second-best player behind Tyrese Maxey to close the regular season.

The 28-year-old acquitted himself quite well in his first postseason appearance since 2018. He played terrific defense against All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, who probed and prodded himself away from Oubre in all six games of the Sixers-Knicks first-round series. Oubre was also the team’s third-leading scorer against New York behind Embiid and Maxey.

Oubre was open about his desire to start last season. It will be interesting to see where he slides into the rotation when the Sixers finish all their free agency business. Woj specifically referring to Oubre as “the Sixers’ starting two-guard” feels purposeful.

After the Sixers’ Game 6 loss to the Knicks, Oubre gushed over head coach Nick Nurse and his overall time in Philly.

“At the end of the day, I want to go to somewhere where they respect and they love me,” Oubre said at the time. “It’s been nothing but love here, of course. So at the end of the day, I feel as if there’s unfinished business and a lot of things to be done — and a lot of work to get better and to get us back here past this point and this threshold that Sixers fans have been wanting to get past for so long. I feel as if I kind of failed because we didn’t get past that. I’ve got to just reflect, talk to my family, and sit down and work on the next steps here.”

Unfinished business seemed to be a theme with the Sixers. Now, Oubre has a chance to finish what he started to build in Philly.

Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. acquires new agent with CAA Basketball sixers,kelly,oubre,jr,acquires,new,agent,with,caa,basketball,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-news-basketball,76ers-news

On: By: admin


There’s a host of possible outcomes for the Sixers in free agency this summer. They have the flexibility to create $60+ million in cap space to go spending and star hunting, plus a bunch of players on expiring contracts ready to hit free agency.

This includes Kelly Oubre Jr., fresh off a strong year where he more than proved his value. Now, he seems to be getting ready to make the most of his chance to land a big raise by acquiring new representation: he’s officially joined CAA Basketball.

Oubre’s agent was Torrel Harris for a few years, but Oubre parted ways with him before joining the Sixers and representing himself for a while.

Oubre’s entering free agency at just the right time after the quality season he turned in. With his on-ball scoring and driving ability, off-ball cutting, some improved passing, athleticism, and defensive ability against guards and forwards (which lapsed at times but was rock solid at others, especially later in the season), he showed he can be a genuinely good player after he went unsigned for so long in free agency just one year ago. He had plenty of games where he was one of the Sixers’ best three or four players on the floor. Getting that kind of production from a player on a minimum deal was incredible value.

There’s no doubt the Sixers should look into bringing Oubre back if they can. But as one of the better wings on the free agent market this summer, he may well have played his way out of the Sixers’ budget and will look to cash in elsewhere.

We’ll see soon enough if a K9 return is possible.

2024 NBA Draft: Is Kevin McCullar Jr. the next good role player hiding in plain sight? nba,draft,is,kevin,mccullar,jr,the,next,good,role,player,hiding,in,plain,sight,liberty,ballers,front-page,nba-draft,76ers-draft-rumors-news

On: By: admin


Before the 2024 NBA Draft, we’ll take an in-depth look at different prospects here at Liberty Ballers and try to figure out which players would be the best fit for the Sixers at Nos. 16 and 41. Next up in this series is Kansas’ Kevin McCullar.

Kansas’ Kevin McCullar played four seasons with Texas Tech, later transferring to Kansas and playing two seasons with the Jayhawks. McCullar excelled last season, putting up career highs in minutes, three-point percentage, assists and points. Now he’ll have a chance to pop at the next level.

Profile

2023-24 Stats: 26 games, 34.2 minutes, 18.3 points, 6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.4 blocks, 45.4% FG, 33.3% 3P, 80.5% FT

Team: Kansas

Year: Senior

Position: SG

Height (without shoes) & Weight: 6’5.25” | 205.8 lbs

Born: March 15, 2001 (23 years old)

Hometown: San Antonio, Texas

High School: Karen Wagner

Strengths

Kevin McCullar spent his five years in college well, dramatically improving as a perimeter scorer with a recent shooting resurgence. McCullar’s three-point percentage doesn’t jump off the page at a lackluster 33.3 percent, but he did take a career-high 4.5 attempts per game and refined his form for the better. His free throw shooting (typically a good indicator of where a prospects shooting is) also crept up into the 80s. McCullar has great offensive IQ, timing his cuts well and finding the defensive weak spots with ease. He thrived as a playmaker with Kansas, rarely turning the ball over and facilitating pick-and-rolls and dribble handoffs. He’s a capable scorer from most areas on the floor, and finished well within the three-point arc. Defensively, he brings intensity, effort and focus as a defender and rebounder. He defends well off-ball and offers some size as a helper at the rim.

Weaknesses

McCullar is one of the older prospects in this draft, which means he’ll likely have a high floor compared to most prospects in his range while also having a limited ceiling. Most causes for concern revolve around his shooting and how real his resurgence was/is. Prior to this year, McCullar failed to shoot above 30 percent in three of his four seasons, averaging a rough 29.8 percent from three in his first four collegiate seasons. Outside of shooting concerns, McCullar doesn’t project to be a dynamic ball hander who can lead an offense. Look for him to play a role similar to Joe Ingles, Nic Batum, Kyle Anderson — someone who can complement the offense and move the ball well, while not being the prime playmaker.

Positional Fit

McCullar’s defensive versatility, length and playmaking ability should allow him to play multiple positions at the next level — most notably at either forward spot. McCullar’s game has shades of Bruce Brown — a defensive-minded forward, that’s capable of slashing to the rim and getting teammates involved with his playmaking ability.

Draft Projection

Late first round, early second

McCullar is one of the more seasoned prospects in this draft, with his floor likely being drafted in the second round as contending teams look for players who can contribute fast. Although, some drafts do have him going in the late first round, where contenders will be looking for players who can provide skills day one.