Daryl Morey attracted immediate criticism that's only grown louder as the playoffs have progressed when he traded Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Morey sent the promising second-year guard to Oklahoma City for a draft-oriented return, failing to get a single active player back despite Philadelphia's known need for depth.
Though trading McCain may be his most high-profile mistake, it's not the only example of the Philadelphia 76ers handing a current Conference Finalist a key player. They did it three different times.
McCain has been a revelation for the Thunder, scoring 24 points in a pivotal Game 3 win that gave his team a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference Finals. Joining him as a member of Oklahoma City's unrivaled second unit is another former 76ers player: Isaiah Joe.
Morey and the 76ers waived Joe on Oct. 13, 2022. Three days later, he signed with the Thunder. Four years later, he's an NBA champion who has shot at least 40.9 percent from beyond the arc in four straight seasons.
As if that weren't painful enough, Morey waived Julian Champagnie that same season on Feb. 16, 2023. He did so create a roster spot for Mac McClung so that he could represent the 76ers in the Dunk Contest. Two days later, Champagnie signed with the San Antonio Spurs.
Three years later, Champagnie has started each of the Spurs' 14 playoff games in 2026, averaging 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds on .450/.386/.833 shooting.
Julian Champagnie, Isaiah Joe, Jared McCain: Former 76ers in the Conference FInals
In addition to being Conference Finalists, each of Champagnie, Joe, and McCain are on team-friendly contracts. Champagnie signed a four-year, $12 million deal with the Spurs in 2023, McCain is still playing on a rookie-scale salary, and Joe is the highest-paid player of the group at four years and $48 million.
Each of those salaries could've realistically fit within the 76ers' salary cap table, meaning all three could still be playing for Philadelphia in 2025-26.
In that scenario, a glaring weakness of lackluster depth could've been turned into a definitive strength. Champagnie, Joe, and McCain are all high-level three-point shooters who could've at least come off of the bench to help space the floor.
If they'd developed as they have with their new teams, then they could've also made a case for cracking the starting lineup.
Instead, Morey either waived or traded all three players during their formative NBA years. The 76ers, unfortunately, don't have have much to show for it. Instead, they're hoping to hit on the lone first-round pick and multiple second-round selections they got for McCain.
If they do, perhaps they'll be able to replace the three players one could argue they never should've let go in the first place.
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