Jared McCain shows off as Thunder blow out his former team

By contrast, the injured 76ers, missing Maxey, suspended Paul George, an ill Quentin Grimes and injured Kelly Oubre, had to start journeyman 25-year-old MarJon Beauchamp in the backcourt, where he shot 5-for-18.

76ers may regret selling low on Jared McCain

The loss dropped the Sixers to 7th place in the Eastern Conference, where only 2.5 games separate the fifth-place Toronto Raptors and the 10th-place Charlotte Hornets. That means the Sixers could avoid the play-in with a strong final 10 games, but it also means they're in danger of having to win two play-in games.

That's why the 76ers' budget-minded move might cost them. Yes, trading McCain helped Philadelphia get under the luxury tax, but having McCain instead of someone like Beauchamp or 31-year-old Cameron Payne could have meant an extra win or two, which could well give Philadelphia a minimum of two home playoff games if they finished fifth or sixth.

Maybe Philadelphia wasn't worried about injuries, though their roster is full of players who've had health concerns the last two years. The game against the Thunder was likely a lost cause, but the Sixers have two huge upcoming games against the Miami Heat and the Hornets in the next week. It would have been nice if they had a sharpshooter guard like McCain.