[jwplayer txo21Wab-z6KDnl0B]
Every team has a guy in the locker room who provides the laughs and an arm to put around the younger guys on the team. This guy might not play all that much, but he is a positive guy who brings a lot in terms of locker room chemistry.
For the Philadelphia 76ers, that guy is veteran Kyle O’Quinn who was brought in on a 1-year deal. He was probably expecting to play more, but with the way the season played out and the team then moving Al Horford into a bench role, it killed any chances that O’Quinn had at getting into the rotation on a consistent basis.
2019-20 season averages
3.5 points
4.0 rebounds
1.8 assists
49.4% overall percentage
25.9% from deep
O’Quinn played in 29 games for Philadelphia and he was mostly in there to give spot minutes, but he did not hurt the team. For a guy who was mostly just a towel waver, he was a positive guy and he was a nice influence in the locker room. He hustled at practice and he did not sulk that he was not playing as much.
His best game of the season came inside the bubble when he earned a start against the Phoenix Suns. He played hard all game and he even finished just one point shy of a triple-double, but Furkan Korkmaz looked him off underneath the basket to shoot a triple. Korkmaz apologized to O’Quinn after the game was over.
In the playoffs, he only played in Game 2 when the Sixers were getting blown out and he picked up three fouls in six minutes. The Boston Celtics were a tough matchup in general for Philadelphia, but especially for a guy like O’Quinn. The Celtics play a smaller brand of basketball and that can be tough for a guy like him to match up.
O’Quinn is set to enter free agency this offseason and it would be a bit of a surprise if he returned to Philadelphia. There does not appear to really be a role for him with the Sixers probably moving Horford to the bench and he could be better suited elsewhere he can play more. [lawrence-related id=37525,37522,37519]