The Philadelphia 76ers' trade of Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a collection of draft picks has been met with widespread criticism from fans, who feel that the move was a misguided attempt to bolster the team's rotation. Despite this, it's worth noting that McCain was not a significant contributor to the Sixers' success this season and can be replaced by other players.
So, what can the 76ers get for the first-round pick they acquired from the Thunder? The answer lies in examining recent history of draft trades involving picks in this range. In the last five drafts, there have been five trades that are somewhat instructive as to what the Sixers might be able to achieve if they decide to flip this Houston pick.
For instance, the 2022 trade between the Sixers and Memphis Grizzlies for De'Anthony Melton shows that a team can successfully trade a first-round pick in this range for an established player. However, it's worth noting that the Sixers are the only team to have made such a move with success over the last half-decade.
If the Houston pick turns out to be in the early-to-mid-20s, the Sixers might be able to get something of value from it. Perhaps they can flip it for a good player or use it as a building block for future moves. However, the most likely scenario is that the team will simply use it to select a prospect.
Ultimately, the success of this trade will depend on how well Jared McCain performs in Oklahoma City and if he becomes a high-level contributor for the Thunder. If he does, the Sixers will have had to hit a legitimate home run with this pick – either by sticking and picking or making a hell of a trade – for people not to feel like the entire set of operations was a failure.
Another question on fans' minds is how highly the front office will prioritize re-signing Quentin Grimes, who has been struggling in recent games. Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey stated that he hopes to retain Grimes' services this summer, citing his defensive versatility and ability to play alongside Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
However, it's also possible that the Sixers may choose to let Grimes leave and utilize their spending power in free agency to sign a guard. The 76ers have already made significant investments in the frontcourt, so it's unclear whether they will be able to find room for Grimes in their budget.
Finally, fans are eagerly awaiting Paul George's return from his 25-game suspension. According to the rules, George can travel with the team and participate in practices and shootarounds during his suspension, which suggests that he should be ready to go as soon as he is eligible to return on March 25.
So, what can the 76ers get for the first-round pick they acquired from the Thunder? The answer lies in examining recent history of draft trades involving picks in this range. In the last five drafts, there have been five trades that are somewhat instructive as to what the Sixers might be able to achieve if they decide to flip this Houston pick.
For instance, the 2022 trade between the Sixers and Memphis Grizzlies for De'Anthony Melton shows that a team can successfully trade a first-round pick in this range for an established player. However, it's worth noting that the Sixers are the only team to have made such a move with success over the last half-decade.
If the Houston pick turns out to be in the early-to-mid-20s, the Sixers might be able to get something of value from it. Perhaps they can flip it for a good player or use it as a building block for future moves. However, the most likely scenario is that the team will simply use it to select a prospect.
Ultimately, the success of this trade will depend on how well Jared McCain performs in Oklahoma City and if he becomes a high-level contributor for the Thunder. If he does, the Sixers will have had to hit a legitimate home run with this pick – either by sticking and picking or making a hell of a trade – for people not to feel like the entire set of operations was a failure.
Another question on fans' minds is how highly the front office will prioritize re-signing Quentin Grimes, who has been struggling in recent games. Sixers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey stated that he hopes to retain Grimes' services this summer, citing his defensive versatility and ability to play alongside Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
However, it's also possible that the Sixers may choose to let Grimes leave and utilize their spending power in free agency to sign a guard. The 76ers have already made significant investments in the frontcourt, so it's unclear whether they will be able to find room for Grimes in their budget.
Finally, fans are eagerly awaiting Paul George's return from his 25-game suspension. According to the rules, George can travel with the team and participate in practices and shootarounds during his suspension, which suggests that he should be ready to go as soon as he is eligible to return on March 25.
. I mean, fans rly don't see the value in giving up a first-rounder for him when he wasn't exactly lighting it up this season. That being said, if they can flip that pick for someone good, it could be a nice win-win 
️. The real question is what's gonna happen with Quentin Grimes - will they keep him or let him go? 
And can't wait to see Paul George back on the court 
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, they're getting kinda decent draft picks but not the one they wanted, you know? But on the bright side, if Jared McCain doesn't work out in OKC, it could still pay off in the future 
. I mean, we've seen teams trade away first-round picks for players and then flip them for even better things, so who knows what'll happen with this pick 
. The Sixers were already building towards something good, and now they're just giving up draft picks and hopes on someone who wasn't even that big of a contributor in the first place? 
And if the guys like VJ Edgecombe or Tyrese Maxey are gonna pan out into superstars, that's cool too. But let's not forget about all the other factors at play here... like the injury concerns with Quentin Grimes and now Paul George is suspended 
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It's like the NBA is trying to confuse us. Can we just get some stability for once? 
But hey, I guess that's just the nature of the game... or in this case, the business of sports 
. Oh well, gotta wait and see how it all plays out! 
. And now they're gonna have to give another first-rounder away if they want to flip this one? That's like playing Russian roulette 
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. And can we talk about how Paul George is just gonna come back from his suspension and be all like "Hey, I'm back and I'm better than ever!" 
. But nope, now we're back to square one 
. Guess that's just how it goes sometimes 
. I'm curious to see how the Sixers will approach this situation and whether they'll be able to find that elusive gem with the Houston pick 
. And speaking of gems, it'll be exciting to see Paul George back on the court soon! 
. That dude is a game-changer when he's on the court! 
. Jared McCain wasn't even that good to begin with so its hard to see how he can make the Thunder better. The Houston pick is gonna be like a get out of jail free card but if they use it to select some prospect who ends up being a bust its all on the coach 
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He's such a big part of the team and I'm excited to see him back on the court with Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. This season is definitely going to be interesting 
and lets be real, de melton trade was a game changer!! 
. Like, Jared McCain wasn't a superstar for them anyway, so they're not gonna miss him that much. And if the first-round pick doesn't pan out, they can always try again next year... or sell it to someone else who's actually got some hope 
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. I hope they learn from their mistakes and start making some smart moves this time around 
. But seriously, if they can flip this pick for someone like De'Anthony Melton in 2022, that's a huge win 
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! Can't wait to see him back on the court, even if it's just in practices and shootarounds 
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