The Philadelphia 76ers traded Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2026 first-round draft pick and three second-rounders. With the regular season over, Philly will officially get the 22nd or 23rd selection that originally belonged to the Houston Rockets, which is lower than the 16th they picked McCain in 2024. Houston finished tied Cleveland and a drawing before the lottery will determine who picks first. McCain looked like the Rookie of the Year before a season-ending injury. One year later, he was shockingly only worth a pick in the 20s.
Charles Barkley was as confused as every 76ers fan about this trade. McCain looked like an elite sixth man as a rookie. He was an absolute bucket that was efficiently spacing the floor and making plays. One year later, it was like Philadelphia forgot how good McCain was as a rookie.
Daryl Morey said the Sixers were selling high, but McCain instantly improved in Oklahoma City. The defending champs have a loaded roster, but they were happy to fleece Philly. With the best piece being lower than where McCain was taken, it is clear that the 76ers sold low on the talented 22-year-old guard.
76ers botched the Jared McCain trade by only getting a late first-round pick in return
Philly had a crowded backcourt. Tyrese Maxey is a star, and the Sixers plan on having VJ Edgecombe flanking him for years to come. That left Quentin Grimes battling McCain for minutes. The biggest difference was that McCain is on a rookie contract and Grimes will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The 76ers chose Grimes, but could lose him after he hits the open market. The pressure is on to bring him back.
McCain’s efficiency rose to new heights after joining the Thunder. He is shooting 40 percent from 3-point range on 4.6 attempts per contest in just under 18 minutes. The Sixers would love another floor spacer and shot creator in their lineup, but they foolishly dumped McCain for draft picks.
Morey has done well in the draft. He found Maxey with the 21st pick in 2020 and got another building block in Edgecombe in the top three. The only way to save this trade is to find another key piece with this pick from Houston. Hitting that late in the draft is never easy, and things could get way worse if McCain continues to improve.
Nailing the 16th pick with a player that some were viewing as the Rookie of the Year early in the season and trading him one year later is a wild turn of events. Fans were rightly upset, and a new wave of pain is washing over them as the Sixers traded him for a lower first-round pick than where McCain was taken.
The Sixers get a second-round pick in 2027 and two in 2028, along with this selection from Houston. Not exactly a massive haul for a promising 22-year-old that has already proved he’s an NBA rotation player. This was a problematic trade by Morey and the front office that keeps getting worse.
The Philadelphia 76ers will get either the 22nd or 23rd overall pick from this trade. If fans didn’t hate this deal enough, they will now pick several spots lower than where they took Jared McCain in 2024. The disappointment just keeps getting worse for Sixers fans.