76ers land the steal of the draft in Jared McCain: Instant reaction and analysis

After swirling rumors of the Philadelphia 76ers flipping their pick this year, the team ultimately opted to stay put for now and decided to use the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to take Jared McCain out of Duke University.

With the 76ers having an almost depleted roster before free agency officially begins, the 20-year-old McCain should have a great shot at becoming a rotation staple right from the get-go. The team definitely doesn’t have a firm go-to option at the backcourt yet beyond Tyrese Maxey, giving him the opportunity to be an impact player ahead of some of his peers.

76ers stay put for now with Jared McCain at No. 16

McCain is regarded as one of the best all-around scorers and shooters in the 2024 draft class, and has the makings to fortify a 76ers roster that badly needs balance. His arrival will also be timely with the impending free agency of De’Anthony Melton, Buddy Hield, and Kyle Lowry, among others.

A particularly strong shooter, McCain is a versatile guard who can play with or without the ball thanks to his prolific standstill and movement shooting. He can quickly get hot from anywhere. More importnatly, he profiles as a real defensive asset with his great court sense.

As is the case with most rookies regardless of projections, it would be a steep learning curve for McCain, especially as a guard. Nonetheless, this is a great first step for a 76ers franchise looking to double down on being aggressive in both free agency and in the trade market.

Of course, nothing is set in stone yet. Philly could still package their new selection in deals, though they also have future assets to lure another team into a potential trade. Either way, the Duke standout profiles as a valuable asset for the 76ers moving forward.

Hopefully, Jared McCain ends up being a great fit in Philly. But for now, this gives the 76ers a positive outlook as they start to zero in on the upcoming free agency and the brewing storm that is the trade market, where they are expected to be very active.