Heading into the 2024 NBA offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers are set to have up to 13 free agents. Currently, the team has only Joel Embiid, Paul Reed, and Ricky Council under contract for next season. Additionally, Tyrese Maxey has a player option, and Jeff Dowtin has a team option. The 76ers are projected to have $55.1 million in cap space this summer, the second-highest mark only behind the Detroit Pistons. This is a possible indication the team could conduct a major roster shakeup. However, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the 76ers are “most likely” to re-sign free agents Nicolas Batum, Kyle Lowry, and Kelly Oubre.
“Based on those constraints, a source said Nico Batum, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Kyle Lowry are the free agents the team most likely would like to re-sign. Not only do they mesh well with All-Stars Maxey and Joel Embiid, they might not command a lot of money in the free-agent market.”
All three impending free agents joined the Sixers just before or during the 2023-24 season.
3 NBA Veterans “Most Likely” to Remain With Philadelphia 76ers
Nicolas Batum
Initially with the Los Angeles Clippers, Batum joined the 76ers as part of the blockbuster James Harden deal. With the Sixers, Batum averaged 5.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. Despite an unspectacular regular season performance, the 35-year-old made his presence felt in the team’s Play-In matchup against the Miami Heat. In the win for the No. 7 seed, Batum recorded 20 points and five rebounds off the bench while shooting 7-for-12 from the field and 6-for-10 from beyond the arc.
Kyle Lowry
After starting the season with the Heat, Lowry joined the 76ers in February. During his 76ers stint, the 38-year-old averaged 8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game in 23 games. Despite being in the league for 18 years, Lowry has recently made it clear he does not plan on leaving the game just yet. Additionally, his teammates have publicly praised Lowry’s presence as a veteran leader. In April, Reed talked about how important the former champion is to the team.
“He does a lot, man,” Reed told Sixers Wire. “Having a veteran guy like that, that has experience and championship games and knows ins and outs of the NBA and referees and all that. I mean, it’s a huge plus because he’s a great leader. He leads. Not just me, but he leads everybody on the team and guiding everybody to do the right thing. He’s like a coach for real.”
Kelly Oubre
In his first season with Philadelphia, Oubre averaged 15.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. After the team’s first-round playoff exit, the 28-year-old spoke about wanting to “be loved” by a team in the offseason.
“I just wanna be loved,” Oubre said of his free agency values. “I don’t know about the business side of it. I mean, I do, but I can’t tell you what I know because I represent myself right now. At the end of the day, I wanna go somewhere where they respect and they love me. It’s been nothing but love here, of course.”
Oubre enjoyed a solid first season with the 76ers. Depending on the size of his contract, a reunion could make sense for both sides.
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