NBA Notes: Pacers, Kelly Oubre Jr., Celtics, Mitchell Robinson, Sixers

Pacers

The Pacers may not have landed the biggest name in free agency, but they believe Kelly Oubre Jr. fills one of their biggest needs.

Indiana signed Oubre to a fully guaranteed two-year, $17 million contract after identifying wing depth as a priority this offseason, writes Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star.

Oubre averaged 14.1 points while shooting a career-best 36 percent from three-point range with the 76ers last season and brings length, athleticism and defensive versatility to a team that believes it can contend in the Eastern Conference.

Whether he starts or comes off the bench remains to be seen, but Oubre gives Indiana another proven scorer capable of defending multiple positions.

The move likely leaves the Pacers with little financial flexibility the rest of the offseason, as they now project to operate close to the league’s first tax apron.

Celtics

New Celtics center Mitchell Robinson has revealed the emotional story behind the hand injury that affected him during the NBA Finals.

In a Facebook post, Robinson said he fractured his hand after learning his younger brother had been involved in a serious car accident. Robinson said he became overwhelmed after seeing his brother wearing a neck brace during a FaceTime call and, in a moment of frustration, struck his truck.

Robinson also wrote that he battled personal and family challenges throughout the season while trying to remain focused on helping the Knicks win a championship.

Despite the injury, Robinson played in every Finals game and delivered one of the series’ biggest moments when he grabbed a crucial offensive rebound late in New York’s title-clinching Game 5 victory over San Antonio.

Sixers

The reviews continue to be overwhelmingly positive for Philadelphia’s blockbuster acquisition of Jaylen Brown.

Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice wrote that Brown addresses several of the Sixers’ biggest needs by giving them another dependable shot creator, improving their perimeter defense and taking pressure off Joel Embiid to generate offense.

Tony Jones of The Athletic reached a similar conclusion, pointing to Brown’s durability and three-level scoring ability as major upgrades over Paul George.

There are still questions about how Brown and Embiid will mesh, but league observers largely agree on one thing:

The Sixers became a much more dangerous team the moment the trade became official.

MORE HOOPS | NBA free agents by position