These changes from Jared McCain could make or break the 76ers' back-court

On November 13th, the Philadelphia 76ers faced the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers who were the NBA’s last remaining unbeaten team. Philadelphia entered the contest without Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Andre Drummond – essentially throwing a larger-than-life rookie from Duke in the deep end and leaving him to fend for himself. However, Jared McCain didn’t just prevent himself from drowning, he swam laps around the eventual 64-win Cavaliers.

Against all odds, the 76ers held a 54-48 lead over the Cavaliers heading into the third quarter – spearheaded by the offensive brilliance of McCain. Between letting it fly from distance and causing havoc at the rim, McCain notched a career-high 34 points on 61.2% true-shooting alongside 10 assists and two steals. Unfortunately, McCain’s surreal effort wasn’t enough as the Cavaliers outlasted the short-handed 76ers and came up victorious 114-106.

Jared McCain took the NBA by storm

Still, McCain’s noble efforts proved something that all of Philadelphia already knew – he was special. His career night against Cleveland was far from a novelty as he averaged 19.1 points per game on 45.1% shooting from the field and 37.7% shooting from downtown on 7.6 nightly attempts in November. McCain emerged as the clear favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award as he was undeniably the best player on the 76ers during this stretch.

Tragically, all of McCain’s dreamlike success came crashing down in Philadelphia’s 121-107 loss to the Indiana Pacers on December 13th. McCain smoked Benedict Mathurin off the dribble, but en route to the rim, he awkwardly collided with Andrew Nembhard and fell right on the hardwood. One day later, the 76ers announced McCain suffered a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee, which required him to undergo a procedure and miss the rest of the season.

Though McCain played in just 23 games, he cemented himself as someone who can help Philadelphia win now, but also as a building block for the long-term future. While his bread and butter was spot-up perimeter shooting, McCain showed plenty of flashes of on-ball dominance. The first-year guard found success at evading defenders off the bounce and appeared comfortable operating as a pick-and-roll ball-handler. McCain’s feel as an on-ball creator for himself and others was impressive considering he was labeled as simply an elite floor-spacer. 

What should Jared McCain's role be next season?

With McCain’s stellar, but short rookie campaign, there has been much debate about what his role should be next season. Since he and Maxey are both 6’ 2, many are concerned that they would get picked on defensively, especially since the 76ers don’t possess an elite defensive front-court. To counter this argument, fans have pointed out how Cleveland has made it work with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland both below 6’ 4. However, the Cavaliers have an elite defensive front line with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen – something the 76ers don’t possess. 

The true argument for McCain to start lies in his potential as a playmaker. Before injuries and controversy struck Philadelphia this season, one issue that resided in the first iteration of its roster was the lack of a true playmaker. While Embiid, Maxey, and George are capable of making basic reads, the 76ers were missing someone who could consistently create advantages – similar to the issue that the Phoenix Suns had last season, but to a lesser degree. 

Heading into his second season, McCain will have to progress as a point-of-attack defender to start alongside Maxey, especially if Philadelphia retains Quentin Grimes this summer. With his talents as a prototypical “3&D” wing, Grimes is a better two-way fit alongside the 76ers’ tandem of Embiid, Maxey, and George. While Grimes isn’t the playmaker that McCain is, Philadelphia possessing a strong two-way starting lineup is essential for success at the highest level. The 76ers’ big three have enough playmaking talent to fluidly create offense for each other.

With McCain potentially coming off the bench, he could lead the second unit and showcase his exceptional talent as a dynamic offensive source. A player of McCain’s caliber could easily be a finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year Award. Depending on the matchup, there will likely be instances where McCain should start and he could be a mainstay in Philadelphia’s closing lineup. Whether starting or coming off the bench, McCain will make an invaluable impact, but improved perimeter defense should be a priority for him this upcoming offseason.