Philadelphia 76ers fans ‘might cringe’ as key player is named the top trade chip in the NBA

Jared McCain trade would anger fans

McCain first rose to prominence during his time at Duke, not only because of his on-the-court performances, but also his obsession with making content on TikTok.

He was drafted 16th overall by the 76ers and instantly made a great impact with the franchise.

But just a few months into his rookie season, McCain suffered a meniscus injury and was ruled out after just 23 appearances.

He put up some brilliant performances and earned the praise of fans and coaches.

After his injury, Paul George challenged him to come back stronger, and the next season will be his chance to prove that for the team.

While a trade for him seems unlikely, Bleacher Report has stated why it could be one of the moves the 76ers explore.

Their latest article read: “Sixers fans might cringe at the suggestion Jared McCain could somehow, someway be feasibly available. That’s fair.

“If you believe this current core’s injury issues are too great to overcome, then the idea of dealing a 21-year-old who packed as much high-end potential into a 23-game sample as McCain just did should be a non-starter.”

McCain might become a difficult player to fit onto the roster

The 76ers’ Big Three of Joel Embiid , George and Tyrese Maxey played only 15 games together.

McCain showed what he was able to do in his 23 appearances, but it is now feared that he is another injury-prone addition after his rookie season.

The team certainly does not need that despite all the talent he can offer.

“McCain, a scoring guard with defensive limitations, maybe isn’t the best long-term fit with Tyrese Maxey. Especially not if the Sixers think they could replace McCain with No. 3 pick VJ Edgecombe and a hopefully re-signed Quentin Grimes.

“A McCain trade, while not likely, feels like it has greater than a non-zero chance of happening, so he’ll snag our No. 1 spot by virtue of his ahead-of-schedule efficiency, ignitable scoring and no-hesitation shot-creation, which all add up to significant star potential,” Bleacher Report added.

Once again, the 76ers are not certain if they will have Embiid and George at the start of the season.

Embiid is still recovering from his knee injury, while George suffered a knock in his offseason training. The team cannot afford to start slow and will need their other players to step up.

McCain will be key to them if George is unable to stay fit as he adds scoring and gives them the shooting that will keep them afloat.

The presence of Edgecombe will also give them a further boost as he is a two-way player who can contribute evenly on both ends.