Jared McCain and the 76ers recently celebrated his Rookie of the Month honor for his impressive play during October and November.
In this 18-game stretch, he dropped 16.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, shooting 44.8% from the floor and 36.4% from beyond the arc. He had seven consecutive 20+ point games and scored a career-high 34 points in a loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 13.
Exactly a month later, McCain reported knee soreness following a loss to the Indiana Pacers. The team later announced that the rookie needed surgery on his left knee due to a torn meniscus and would be out for the remainder of the season.
At the beginning of McCain’s absence, the Sixers went on a 6-1 run. The Big 3 of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey routinely saw the floor. Since then, this Philly squad has struggled, winning just two of the next seven games against the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards, respectively.
A Familiar Skid
A particularly frustrating loss came against the Sacramento Kings.
It is important to note that Embiid did not play in that game. Instead, the Sixers opted to play him the following night against the Golden State Warriors. A potential motivation for this decision could be that the team felt confident they could take down the middle-of-the-pack Kings while saving their star power for a tougher Golden State matchup (which would result in another loss).
It is easy to envision a world where an uninjured McCain made the difference in the Sixers’ six-point defeat. The Sixers are sure to see more coin-flip games that result in losses, the outcomes of which could have easily been reversed with the presence of the former Blue Devil.
The rookie not only provided perimeter shooting — averaging 15.3 points per game while shooting 38.3% from three — but he also offered consistency. McCain was just one of three Sixers players to suit up for every game this season prior to his injury, alongside Kelly Oubre Jr. and Guerschon Yabusele.
He was a reliable offensive force, and the Sixers will sorely miss him for the rest of the year if they do not find someone to fill the McCain-shaped hole in this Philadelphia roster.
Potential Trade Targets to Replace Jared McCain
The Feb. 6 trade deadline could allow this group to retool and set themselves up for success ahead of the playoffs. Currently, the Sixers are the No. 11 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 15-22 record, so the playoffs are still in reach. However, the odds of achieving any tangible success remain shaky.
The core of Embiid, George and Maxey seems to be set, but the supporting cast needs to improve. The Sixers need scoring, especially from mid-range or three-point territory. To acquire this kind of player, Philadelphia will likely offer one of its more valuable assets: KJ Martin’s $16 million contract.
At $8 million annually, it falls within the mid-level salary range, making it ideal for salary-matching. Its short, two-year duration provides a manageable financial commitment for potential trade partners, while Martin’s on-court contributions as an athletic, versatile role player add appeal.
It is important to note that Martin has not played since hurting his foot in a five-point victory against the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 23. Prior to this injury, he averaged 6.4 points, 3 rebounds and 0.8 assists, while shooting 38% from deep. He played 20 minutes per contest.
Martin for Beasley?
One potential player Martin could be dealt for straight-up is Malik Beasley. Beasley averages 16.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game and shoots 40.4% from three-point range in 28.3 minutes per game.
Though he would not see as much time on the floor as a Sixer, his starting-quality play would certainly help ease the nightly offensive pressure stars like Embiid, George and Maxey face.
The Pistons currently hold the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, and their playoff aspirations complicate trade talks. Beasley signed a one-year, $6 million contract last summer, and his play this season will likely earn him an extension or a bigger contract elsewhere. Additionally, now that Jaden Ivey is out recovering from surgery for a fibula injury on his left leg, the 28-year-old shooting guard’s value has only increased to this Pistons squad.
A hypothetical Sixers-Pistons trade could send Beasley to the 215 for KJ Martin and two 2027 second-round picks.
What About Kenrich Williams?
Another player the Sixers could look at is Oklahoma City’s Kenrich Williams. The 30-year-old wing is averaging 6.2 points and 3.1 rebounds while shooting 42.6% from three, all in 13.9 minutes per contest.
Williams is essentially a more efficient, more experienced version of KJ Martin, who could bolster this team’s wing depth nicely. He is under contract through next year, with a $7.2 million team option in 2026-2027.
OKC is having a wildly successful season thus far, holding the top seed in the Western Conference by a convincing margin, so the Thunder may not want to fix what isn’t broken. However, on the off chance OKC’s front office is looking to add to their mountain of draft picks, they could potentially send Williams to Philadelphia in exchange for Martin and a 2027 second-rounder.
Looking Ahead
McCain’s absence has highlighted the team’s vulnerabilities, particularly in consistent scoring and perimeter shooting.
At the deadline, the Sixers have an opportunity to pivot their season by leveraging assets like KJ Martin to fill these gaps with Beasley— or Williams-esque players. If the Sixers don’t make any moves, they will have a tough road ahead and may even miss the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
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