The Philadelphia 76ers approach an offseason that could very well dictate the fate of the franchise in the foreseeable future. After sputtering out of the gates this season and failing to get back up, the team finds itself in yet another delicate situation where they will have a smaller margin of error in going about things this summer.
Aside from the draft, free agency will be very important for them as they aim to construct a more competitive roster that can offer a lot more resistance in the improved Eastern Conference. However, the front office is already expected to be torn in choosing between two of their most important players, who will both hit free agency.
Given the front office’s financial constraints, the 76ers are expected to be able to only keep one of Quentin Grimes and Guerschon Yabusele, who both stood out for the squad in an otherwise deflating campaign. Philly will uncur a loss no matter which player they choose to keep, but there is one big factor that could heavily factor into their decision.
Jared McCain could force the 76ers to pass up on Quentin Grimes
Despite how ugly the 76ers campaign has been this year, the team still saw some silver linings they could build on for the future. One of those is Jared McCain, who looked like the runaway favorite to win Rookie of the Year before he went down with a season-ending injury.
With McCain set to make a full recovery before training camp, the team’s backcourt will be further solidified. However, his presence could actually give the 76ers a compelling reason to keep Yabusele over Grimes.
Grimes and McCain share very similar skill sets and shot diet, although the latter edges him in that he is still under his rookie-scale contract. That clear overlap alon could compel the 76ers to think hard before matching any offers for Grimes.
That being said, Philly needs to bolster its backcourt even more, although at this point, one could argue that the team’s need for frontcourt depth is more pressing. As a result, if the offers for Grimes become too much for the 76ers to match, the front office could quickly pivot and look elsewhere.
After all, Jared McCain is already good enough to be a starter next season and supplant Quentin Grimes, giving the Philadelphia 76ers a lethal one-two punch in the backcourt with Tyrese Maxey.