Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. picks up $8.3M option; Eric Gordon to test market

On the final day of the regular season, Kelly Oubre Jr. kept referring to the 76ers as “we” when speaking about next season.

Oubre was asked whether his hope was to remain in Philly next season. The 29-year-old noted that the NBA is a business but added, “I’m happy, and I feel like I like to finish what I start.”

He made things official on Sunday. The swingman exercised his option for $8.3 million for next season, hours before the 5 p.m. deadline to do so.

» READ MORE: Sixers free agency: Will they be able to keep Quentin Grimes and Guerschon Yabusele?

Meanwhile, Eric Gordon declined his $3.4 million player option for next season. Gordon and the Sixers have mutual interest in a potential return, but the 36-year-old guard will test the NBA free-agent market first.

The free agency period begins at 6 p.m. Monday.

In addition to his shooting, the Sixers see Gordon was a good mentor for first-round pick VJ Edgecombe. Both are members of Bahama’s national team.

On the same day that Oubre and Gordon made decisions, the Sixers declined Lonnie Walker IV’s $2.9 million team option for next season. Like Gordon, the 26-year-old will be able to test the market.

Oubre comes back after averaging 15.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and career highs of 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 60 games this past season. The 10-year-veteran was sidelined the last 17 games with a sprained left knee.

The 6-foot-8, 203-pounder said he felt fine after the season-ending loss to the Chicago Bulls on April 13. However, he and several teammates rested while the team tanked.

But the New Orleans native is determined to play with more excitement next season.

Oubre was not himself this past season, and he knew it. Going forward, he’s determined to be the player who brought excitement and quickly turned into a Sixers fan favorite during the 2023-24 season.

“I’m getting back to myself,” Oubre said on April 13. “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.”

» READ MORE: Johni Broome was a winner at the college level. He hopes to prove that it translates to the NBA.

Oubre, Gordon, and Andre Drummond all had player options for next season. Drummond picked up his $5 million option on Friday, while Gordon’s decision was revealed close to the 5 p.m. deadline.

The Indiana native had season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist on Feb. 26. He averaged just 6.8 points and 19.7 minutes in his 17th NBA season. However, Gordon’s three-point shooting percentage of 40.9% was the third-highest of his career.

Walker averaged 12.4 points in 20 games after signing a two-year, $3.7 million deal with the Sixers on Feb. 21.

The Reading native, who played AAU basketball for Delaware County-based Team Final, facilitated a return to the NBA after agreeing to a buyout of his contract with Lithuania’s Basketball Club Žalgiris in February.

Walker was selected 18th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2018 NBA draft. He has played for the Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, and Sixers over seven NBA seasons.