The Philadelphia 76ers now have their sights set on the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where they will kickstart their postseason run against the Boston Celtics. But to get where they currently stand, this team had to battle through thick and thin, especially from the health department. It also did not help that the front office made one of the most baffling in-season trades in recent memory this year.
The decision to trade Jared McCain quickly backfired, but the damage would not have been as major had the 76ers opted to keep one of their better guards from last season in Jared Butler. During the previous summer, the front office declined the young guard's team option for the 2025-26 campaign, which resulted in him getting booted out of Philly.
Since then, Butler has stuck around in Europe. He initially signed a one-year deal with the Suns, but Phoenix's brain trust decided against having him on the roster, waiving him shortly before the regular season began. That was certainly a frustrating development for Butler, who was largely solid in Philly when he landed there after last year's trade deadline.
The 76ers made a mistake cutting ties with Jared Butler
Drafting VJ Edgecombe and welcoming McCain back (at the time) made it easier for the front office to let Butler go. However, it is that very premise which is erroneous, as the team also made a concerted choice to go with veterans like Eric Gordon and Kyle Lowry over the 25-year-old playmaker.
Since then, Gordon got jettisoned while Lowry simply ended up being a quasi-assistant coach on the bench. McCain, as already mentioned, is now in Oklahoma City. Outside of Tyrese Maxey, Edgecombe, and Quentin Grimes, this team does not have any viable option in the backcourt to soak up real minutes.
The 76ers signed Cameron Payne shortly after dangling McCain away, and while he was relatively serviceable in his limited role for the team, it is pretty telling of his caliber that the squad ultimately cut him before the playoffs due to an injury that was not even expected to hold him out for long.
Had the team kept Butler instead, they would not have had such a glaring issue when it comes to playmaking off the bench. There is no use crying over spilled milk, but if there is one thing clear, it is that the 76ers made a mistake giving up on him so easily.
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