The Denver Nuggets will have a few roster spots to fill this offseason, and they probably won't be able to fill them at much more than the minimum salary due to their salary constraints. That means veteran targets with some game, like the Nuggets found in Tim Hardaway Jr. last year, will be the focus for the Nuggets in free agency. If they get a chance at Kelly Oubre Jr. on the minimum, the Nuggets need to swoop in and steal him away from the Philadelphia 76ers.
Oubre will be an unrestricted free agent, and he's coming off a two-year deal that saw the 11-year vet make $8.38 million in the final year. However, even after a solid year in 2022-23 that saw Oubre score 20.3 points per game for the Charlotte Hornets, the 76ers were able to steal the wing away on a one-year, $2 million minimum deal before re-signing Oubre to the two-year contract.
If the Nuggets can get the chance to do the same, they need to jump at the opportunity.
Oubre would be great depth off the bench
Oubre has been on and off the bench throughout his career, but he's always been a consistent scorer, averaging 15.4, 15.1, and 14.1 points over the past three seasons with the 76ers. And Oubre's three-point game just had a career-best 36.0% from beyond the arc, a number that could improve in the Nuggets offense thanks to all of the open looks Nikola Jokic helps to generate. Oubre has improved as a shooter throughout his career, and his 46.7% from the floor was the second-highest mark of his career last season.
Oubre isn't just a solid shooter and scorer. He's a good rebounder and would be a great defensive fit for the Nuggets. Oubre is a disruptive passer, and he snagged 1.4 steals last year, while also blocking 0.5 shots.
He's one of the better wings in the league at causing chaos in the passing lanes, and the Nuggets would certainly be big benefactors of Oubre's defense on the second unit. especially if they decide to go with a small-ball setup in the non-Jokic minutes.
The problem is going to be getting Oubre on the cheap minimum he once signed, but it is possible. The Nuggets signed Hardaway last year after a down year with the Detroit Pistons. Oubre didn't have a down year, but he had a fantastic season in Charlotte and still wound up with a minimum the next season. Hopefully, the Nuggets luck into the same situation with Oubre. He'd be a great fit in the Nuggets system.
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