Kelly Oubre Jr. will meet with the Pacers, Lakers, Trail Blazers, and Sixers, among other teams, as he contemplates his next move, Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko reports (via Twitter).
Oubre is coming off a strong season for Philadelphia. He started 41 of the 50 games he played and averaged 14.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game while hitting a career-high 36.0% from deep. While he struggled to score efficiently in the playoffs, his athletic versatility and energy were valuable traits for a Sixers team that faced so much uncertainty day in and day out.
The Pacers are very intrigued by the possibility of adding the 6’8″ wing, believing that he fits their system with his ability to run in the open court, operate as an off-ball slasher offensively, and guard multiple positions defensively, Grant Afseth writes for Dallas Hoops Journal. Indiana lost its primary second-unit scorer when it traded Bennedict Mathurin to the Clippers in the Ivica Zubac deal at the trade deadline, and Oubre could fill some of the gaps that Mathurin left behind.
There are rumors that Oubre and the Pacers could agree to a contract somewhere in the range of $16.5MM over two years, Afseth adds. Such a deal would almost certainly push Indiana into the luxury tax, which the team hasn’t paid since the 2004/05 season. But with star point guard Tyrese Haliburton expected to be healthy next season, there’s a good chance for the team to compete for a championship, which could incentivize paying the tax.
With guard Quentin Grimes emerging as a potential top wing target for the Lakers, the Sixers could be more incentivized to keep Oubre around, as they have little wiggle room financially when it comes to filling out their depth. The veteran forward has a track record of solid play, despite some shooting inconsistencies, with the team over the last three seasons.
