Kelly Oubre, Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon staying with Sixers

Retaining Grimes will clearly be the priority, and luckily for the Sixers the salary cap environment  in the NBA this summer paves the way for them to not only re-sign the 24-year-old breakout guard, but do so on a contract that is team-friendly. But the key to fitting in Grimes, Yabusele, Kelly Oubre Jr. and a top-six pick is getting Yabusele on a deal that does not limit the team’s flexibility. If he takes the taxpayer’s mid-level exception, projected to be worth a maximum of two years and approximately $11.6 million, the Sixers would be able to spend whatever they needed to in order to re-sign either of their remaining key free agents. If it requires more money than that for the Sixers to re-sign Yabusele, they would need to dip into the non-taxpayer’s mid-level exception. Doing so would initiate a hard cap at the first apron for the Sixers, at which point they could fit in Grimes, their first-round pick and possibly not much else outside of minimum contracts. Andre Drummond has a $5 million player option he will likely pick up — perhaps a salary dump of what will then be an expiring deal could help the Sixers clear room under their hard cap if Yabusele’s market grows. -via Philly Voice / April 15, 2025

Adam Aaronson: Andre Drummond says he’s looking forward to a great season next year and, similar to Maxey/Oubre, that he’s glad the only way is up. -via Twitter @SixersAdam / April 13, 2025

Adam Aaronson: Andre Drummond says he has more work to do in Philadelphia. “My plan is to come back.” -via Twitter @SixersAdam / April 13, 2025

Adam Aaronson: Eric Gordon says he hasn’t thought about his player option for 2025-26 much yet. Just focused on getting healthy. -via Twitter @SixersAdam / April 13, 2025

Adam Aaronson: Eric Gordon says his rehab has been going well and he’s ahead of schedule. “It’s going to be a long process, but I’m headed in the right direction.” -via Twitter @SixersAdam / April 13, 2025

Jorge Sierra: Buddy Hield moved to No. 16 all-time in three-pointers ahead of Eric Gordon last night. Also: Nikola Jokic passed Jeff Hornacek for No. 61 in assists. -via Bluesky / March 11, 2025

Oubre averaged 15.1 points and 6.1 rebounds, and his 1.5 steals were a career high. However, his three-point shooting (29.3%) was the second-worst of his career. Improving upon that is a priority this offseason. “But that comes from … I had surgery on my thumb … back in my tenure in Charlotte,” he said. “It’s just kind of getting into the nuances and the disciplines of just the recovery aspect of tendons back together and stuff like that. “It’s been a struggle for me. But at the end of the day, I do have things set up to where I’ll see a hand therapist, and I’ll get that range of motion back, just my confidence up, get a whole lot of reps, and I feel like I’ll be better off. But, yeah, that’s definitely a focal point.” -via The Philadelphia Inquirer / April 18, 2025

“I’m getting back to myself,” Oubre said. “I’m bringing the swag back, and all I know is that I’ll come back better than I was this year. I’m going to Year 11 in my career. So it’s a blessing. I’m blessed to still be here. “But at the end of the day, man, I’m not satisfied with the way I’m perceived by you guys, fans, for what I do bring to the NBA. So tsunami’s back.” -via The Philadelphia Inquirer / April 17, 2025

“I mean, this game, what I’ve learned over my 10 years in this league is that it’s like 50% physical, 50% mental,” Oubre said. “So finding that balance between the two is what makes it very professional. No matter what sports you play, and for me and for us, this team, it’s been a really hard teeter-totter throughout the whole year of balancing those because once your mind goes, your body goes as well. -via The Philadelphia Inquirer / April 17, 2025