Almost out of nowhere, the Philadelphia 76ers turned in a new entry to the list of shockers before the deadline. As first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, the team has traded Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2026 Rockets first-round pick and three future second-round picks, putting an end to the eccentric guard’s brief stint in Philly.
As everyone knows, the 76ers are still pretty much in win-now mode. As such, this move to get some more draft ammo is a huge indication that the front office is up to something. And as one might be able to infer, Daryl Morey and his cohorts could very well be angling to position themselves for a potential blockbuster deal.
McCain has slowly fallen out of favor in Philadelphia. With VJ Edgecombe emerging as their guard of the future and Quentin Grimes appearing like the entrenched option off the bench for the 76ers, the sophomore has quickly become expendable. But in the grand scheme of things, this might actually be a foreshadowing for the 76ers gearing up for another league shocker.
76ers gear up for possible blockbuster after trading Jared McCain
After snagging Houston’s first-round draft pick this year, the 76ers have no fortified their war chest of draft ammunition. Hence, they are now one of the teams best positioned to make a huge splash before the trade deadline.
With their combination of expiring deals, huge salary-matchers, and draft capital, Philly has more than sufficient ammo to steal the limelight and make a surprise acquisition. So far, All-Star caliber players have been getting tossed around like hot potatoes and ending up in strange locations, so it is definitely not outside the realm of possibility if the 76ers get into the action and land a big fish out of the blue.
Names like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Julius Randle, Michael Porter Jr., and Lauri Markkanen, among others, have been frequent mentions in the rumor mill, so the 76ers can get into the discussion for one of those players if they so desire. Everything is just guesswork at this point, but if there is anything certain, it is that Philly is now in a spot where they can force themselves into some high-end trade talks.
The deadline is coming up, but the 76ers seem like they are just getting started. Of course, parting with Jared McCain hurts a tad, but if this team ends up making a drastic addition before the buzzer, the bitter taste should be gone right away.