The Philadelphia 76ers saw mixed results in the Summer League, but they still managed to go 4-1 across five outings. A handful of players from the team proved their case as bona fide rotation-caliber pieces for the 2024-25 season, though some struggled to make a compelling case to make the cut.
With the annual showcase now over, the countdown to training camp officially begins. That being said, looking in hindsight, did the 76ers really make the right decisions in the 2024 draft? To feed the doubters out there, here are three rookies the team could regret not drafting following their solid performances in the Summer League.
3. The 76ers could have stretched out their war chest for Kel’el Ware
Philadelphia’s drafting of Jared McCain was largely met with positive reviews, but it was far from a no-brainer selection at thta juncture. While the Duke alum was certainly high on the draft board, the 76ers then were widely believed to be in the market for reinforcements in the frontcourt. Heck, there were also strong indications that the franchise would be eyeing to flip it altogether.
The player picked before McCain, Kel’el Ware, was a big standout during the Summer League. The 7’0” big man from Indiana, drafted by the Heat, turned in 18 points and 8.3 rebounds per outing, displaying strong finishing ability and even potential as a floor-spacer. Instead, he heads to a rival team in Miami known for having a good developmental program and a personnel that fits him like a glove.
It would be ludicrous to proclaim McCain as a mistake in light of Ware, but there’s credence in saying that the 76ers should have opted for him instead. Notwithstanding the presence of Andre Drummond, the 20-year-old touts a much higher ceiling not only as a Joel Embiid backup, but also as a possible plu-and-play piece who can be trotted out next to the 2023 Most Valuable Player thanks to his motor. If the team moved up to select him, few would be disenchanted.