Jared McCain is here to stay, and the Philadelphia 76ers made that loud and clear with their most recent move that went unnoticed thanks to it being the most predictable thing yet on the part of the front office.
Ahead of the deadline, the 76ers exercised their third-year option on McCain’s rookie deal. This development coincided with the team basically announcing that he is close to making his much-awaited return on the hardwood after eveyone on the team fully participated in their most recent practice session.
While it is technically not the offseason anymore, this one is an extension of their summer slate. Now, the 76ers will get to enjoy the savvy production of the sophomore guard without breaking the bank until next season since he is still on his rookie contract.
Of course, that will cease to be the case once he is eligible for an extension, which is most probably going to be a lucrative one given the flashes he showed last year.
The 76ers expectedly pick up their third-year option on Jared McCain
McCain, who is set to make his return for the 76ers after missing almost a full calendar year due to a torn meniscus in his left knee which cut short his rookie campaign, and a separate thumb injury which suspended his comeback trail ahead of the current campaign.
The 76ers, now turbocharged by their electric backcourt led by resurgent All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey and rounded out by rookie sensation Jared McCain and the rock-solid Quentin Grimes, will get even richer with the addition of McCain, who was the clear frontrunner to win Rookie of the Year last season before going down with his season-ending injury.
With Maxey and Edgecombe now entrenched as the starting guards for the 76ers, McCain will be reprising his role as a super sub off the bench. Together with Grimes, Philly will always have competent play in the backcourt for 48 minutes, which will be an absolute luxury and advantage they will enjoy on a nightly basis barring injury, of course.
McCain is one of the most talented three-level scorers in the league in his age range. Despite getting picked outside the lottery, his shot-making from college translated well into the NBA. Even better, he has shown flashes of being a very capable table-setter for his teammates on the secondary.
There is no doubt that Jared McCain is viewed in high regard by the 76ers as a collective, and for good reason. While the team is loaded in the backcourt, he should still be good enough to stand out, which is a testament to his innate talent and character.