76ers' Jared McCain Trade Process Revealed in New NBA Rumors After Daryl Morey's Exit
Trading Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder "was not the proverbial last straw" that effectively ended Daryl Morey's tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.
Fischer reported the team's ownership "very much approved" the trade, and the organization is confident it can maximize its value from the No. 22 overall pick in the 2026 NBA draft. That was part of the return from OKC.
Morey won't be helping to make that selection after letting him go Tuesday.
McCain's exit allowed the Sixers to get under the luxury tax ahead of the trade deadline.
The fact the team gained more flexibility and saved some money was a cold comfort to fans as McCain thrived in a new setting.
The 22-year-old averaged 10.4 points and shot 39.1 percent from beyond the arc in 30 games with Oklahoma City. He has also been an impactful role player in the postseason, scoring in double figures for three of OKC's four wins over the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Sixers almost certainly wouldn't have beaten the New York Knicks in the second round if they had held onto McCain at the deadline. The roster has far more problems than he can solve.
But the franchise doesn't have a lot of young building blocks who can eventually usher in a new era. Even Tyrese Maxey is aging out of that distinction. He'll turn 26 next season.
VJ Edgecombe's arrival and emergence as a key contributor probably played a role in McCain having a rough first half in Philly. Still, the front office didn't allow for much time to evaluate how McCain and Edgecombe could function in the same backcourt.
Contending teams can never have enough depth, whether that translates on the court or helps a front office engineer a blockbuster trade. In the case of McCain, it certainly looks like Philadelphia sold low.
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