There is definitely a backup PF role available. Feels like that is his ceiling, backup PF. I am happy for him but he is the least of my worries on that team. There are 7 to 8 others at least that I am more worried about.
Philly's top three offensive players = Embiid, Maxey, PG13.
I'd say Yabu is either their 4th or 5th best offensive player on the team. Caleb Martin would be his main competition. Below them would be Eric Gordon. Then Kyle Lowry & Kelly Oubre. Then Drummond.
Good chance Yabu will be their 4th best offensive player. More of a scoring mentality than C Martin. E Gordon has gotten old and is not as dynamic a scorer as he once was. Oubre can't shoot.
If Yabusele is able to be a better offensive player than Oubre, Martin, Gordon, and Lowry, I will be surprised. Of course I have not seen him play much in a while. What players do in the Olympics is not necessarily representative of what they will do in the NBA. To be the 4th best offensive player, he will probably need to score over 15 pts per game (about what Oubre scored last season). Gordon scored about 11 last season in PHX. Martin 10 in MIA. Good for him if Yabusele can jump into the NBA and put up 15 a game.
Oubre averaged 15ppg but they were an inefficient 15ppg. He averaged only 53.5% TS%. League average was 58%. So way below league average for scoring efficiency. He doesn't shoot well from the perimeter. He is a negative for spacing. He is a non-passer. Only 1.5apg against 1.3 turnovers per game. Not good for a wing player. He is below average skill level wise at either the SG or SF position.
Eric Gordon is still a good offensive player. A terrific outside shooter with exceptional range. Not as dynamic on the ball as he was in the past. I see this as the area where Yabu has the advantage on him. Yabu more dynamic as a driver from the PF spot than E Gordon is at the SG spot.
Caleb Martin is a funny one. I always feel like there is more there. Maybe just because he has had a load of big games against the Celtics especially in 2023 ECF. Most of the time he is a reluctant shooter though. 9.2ppg, 9.6ppg and 10ppg over last 3 seasons mostly due to an unwillingness to take shots. 7, 8 and 9 FGAs per game those seasons. Miami needed more scorers too.
Yabu has a scorer's mentality. He gets shots up. I see that as his advantage offensively over Martin. His dynamism on ball over Eric Gordon who is getting older. More of a spot-up shooter now. He can have explosive shooting stretches but then long periods of being on the periphary of the game because he doesn't create well off the bounce anymore. Gotten too old.
Oubre has the scorers mentality & the athleticism but is lacking in skill as evidenced by his poor 3PT%, poor assist numbers, poor TS% numbers. He is more a selfish gunner than anything. The more he shoots the better because it means Embiid, Maxey & PG13 aren't the ones taking those shots.
