NBA Rumors: 3 Philadelphia 76ers Free Agents Who ARE Expected to Return

The Philadelphia 76ers have a boatload of free agents to deal with this offseason, and while we've already had a look at three players who will NOT be returning in 2024-25, we're now hearing from a team insider of three pending UFAs who ARE expected to be back in the City of Brotherly Love.

According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, these three should be back alongside Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey & Co. next season:

Nic Batum

Pompey pegs the 35-year-old, 16-year veteran as the "most likely" to be returning. This is to be expected, after the good fit he provided for the Sixers this season, not to mention the fact that the big guy himself, Embiid, interrupted Batum's season-ending scrum with media to tell him emphatically, "You're coming back to the Sixers."

Batum was able to guard all five positions, and was one of fthe team's best perimeter defenders, as Pompey notes. He also shot 40% from three-point land for Philly this season.

Kyle Lowry

Acting as an "extension of the coaching staff on the floor", the six-time All-Star brings championship pedigree to the Sixers, and despite getting a bit long in the tooth at 38 years old, he was still able to fill it up from the outside shooting 40% from three point range and providing a studying veteran presence off the bench.

Kelly Oubre Jr.

Brought in late last offseason off the free agent market on a bargain $2.9 million deal, Oubre was "a breath of fresh air" for the team, according to GM Daryl Morey, and far outplayed his contract value. He averaged 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. He should be in line to receive the mid-level exception at about $8 million.