Kelly Oubre Jr. has been a loyal player for the Philadelphia 76ers since the start of the 2023-24 season, but his contract is expiring. The 76ers may need to find a replacement for Oubre Jr., and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Rui Hachimura could be the answer.
Oubre Jr.’s Impact on the Sixers
Replacing a player like Oubre Jr. is a difficult task. He brings energy, commitment, and numbers to a team that includes Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey. Oubre Jr. has averaged 14.1 points, five rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game this season, making an impact on both ends of the court.
Hachimura as a Potential Replacement
Rui Hachimura’s scoring efficiency from a similar offensive role makes him an ideal candidate to replace Oubre Jr. Hachimura has averaged 11.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game throughout the 2025-26 season, while shooting 51.4% from the floor. He has knocked down 44.3% of his three-point attempts per game.
Hachimura has proven that he can accept a reduced scoring role, which is important when playing alongside Joel Embiid. During his time with the Lakers, Hachimura has had to acknowledge that he will forever be the bridesmaid and never the bride. However, that has never seemed to reduce his capacity to affect games when his moment arrives on offense.
Defensive Concerns with Hachimura
Hachimura’s defensive contribution compared to that of Oubre Jr. is a potential issue. The Lakers forward has made a minimal impact on this side of the ball, which must change if he wishes to be successful with the 76ers. Embiid’s limited mobility requires players to step up and pick up his slack in certain stretches of games. As it stands, Rui has not shown he is capable of this in Los Angeles on a consistent basis.
Morey’s Strategy and the Future
Even if the Sixers’ critical Game 7 matchup with the Boston Celtics goes pear-shaped, one would imagine that Daryl Morey will persevere with the Joel Embiid vision. This means that any player who joins Philadelphia must be able to stretch the floor effectively and be willing to accept a reduced scoring role when Joel Embiid is on the court.
Nevertheless, defensive limitations aside, Rui Hachimura offers valuable scoring from the wing — something the Philadelphia 76ers would need if Kelly Oubre Jr. ultimately decides his future lies elsewhere. Daryl Morey should be at the front of the que