As if everyone needed another remind of how vindictive the injury bug has been for the Philadelphia 76ers this season, the team once again saw one of its most important players go down in their previous game against the Pacers, which ended up in a loss.
Not long after Joel Embiid incurred a sinus fracture that could keep him out for some time, Jared McCain, the league’s top rookie so far this season, had reportedly torn his meniscus and would be sidelined indefinitely after surgery — a brutal development for a team that has struggled immensely, but has looked much better as of late.
McCain’s absence will again throw the team’s dynamics off. At this point in time, the 76ers do not have anyone who can replicate his production as Tyrese Maxey’s sidekick, making it a near imperative to tap into the market for some trade options. Here are three names the front office could take a look at.
3 Players the 76ers should trade for after Jared McCain’s injury
3. Josh Richardson
Trading for a currently injured player to replace an afflicted one is undoubtedly adding more fuel to the fire, but Josh Richardson is probably one of the biggest low-risk, high-reward trade targets in the league, especially given his contract situation with the veteran being on an expiring deal and not really making much that it would take a trek to mnatch his salary.
Assuming that the swingman can return soon, the former Sixer could actually be a viable target for a reunion. While not quite the flamethrower McCain is, Richardson is capable of serving multiple roles — either as a secondary igniter, spot-up shooter, or ancillary connector on both ends.
2. Tre Jones
San Antonio has been a pleasant surprise this season, touting a winning record despite being in a crowded and brutal Western Conference, but they could have a dilemma at the point guard spot. With Stephon Castle being a revelation and Chris Paul doing Chris Paul things, where does that leave Tre Jones, their starting floor general last year?
With an expiring contract, the 76ers should explore the possibility of trading for the young point guard. While he’s not a scorer, he’s everything the team needs from a bench stabilizer — a cuning, change-of-pace playmaker who is adept at taking care of the ball, exploiting defensive cracks with his dribble-drive game, and an impeccable hustle game.
1. Donte DiVincenzo
Ideally, the 76ers can trade for someone who can replicate McCain’s scoring production. The market is admittedly not teeming with options in that regard, but there is one aberration — Donte DiVincenzo. While he’s had a bit of an off year compared to his last, he remains a very dangerous three-point assassin who isn’t afraid to hoist it up from downtown.
Philadelphia is among the worst teams at generating and draining three-pointers — a problem that will only get exacerbated by McCain’s absence. As a result, DiVincenzo should be their biggest target as of the moment, and his indications point to his camp being pretty amenable to a midseason resettlement.