Daryl Morey believes the Philadelphia 76ers dealt former standout rookie Jared McCain to the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder at the right time.
"I'm quite confident we were selling high," the 76ers president said Friday, according to Erin Grugan of Liberty Ballers, after trading McCain for an assortment of draft picks Wednesday. "Obviously, only time will tell."
The 76ers added a 2026 first-rounder in the deal, though which team it comes from hinges on the Houston Rockets owing a top-four protected pick to Oklahoma City. If Houston's pick falls within Nos. 5-30, Philadelphia will get the second-best pick between the Thunder, Rockets, and Los Angeles Clippers. If it doesn't convey to Oklahoma City, the 76ers will receive the better selection between the Thunder and Clippers.
McCain was a rare bright spot in a down 2024-25 campaign for Philadelphia. With early-season injuries plaguing Joel Embiid and Paul George, the 16th overall pick in 2024 averaged 15.3 points per game with 46.0/38.3/87.5 shooting splits through 23 appearances. The hot start thrusted him into Rookie of the Year talks before he tore his meniscus in December, ending his season.
After missing the first two weeks of the 2025-26 season with a torn thumb ligament, McCain failed to reclaim his role in head coach Nick Nurse's rotation. No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe has since locked up the starting guard position next to Tyrese Maxey, while Nurse relied on veterans Kelly Oubre Jr. and Quentin Grimes on the wing.
"I didn't get to talk to him much - at all - when he called me, but ... I don't know," McCain said when asked about Morey's comments, according to the Thunder Wire's Clemente Almanza.
Morey also secured three second-rounders in the deal for McCain, including two in 2028 via the Thunder and Milwaukee Bucks.
McCain, who's averaging 6.6 points in 37 games in Year 2, will return to Philadelphia on March 23 for the only remaining matchup between the teams.
