Despite the prevailing notion that the Philadelphia 76ers have been the most disappointing team so far this season thanks to their putrid record, the franchise does not really have to fear a grim future. After all, the front office managed to install sufficient safeguards beforehand just in case things do not pan out as expected.
Thanks to some shrewd asset-collecting from last season, Daryl Morey, while not immaculate, guaranteed that the 76ers would not be a hopeless flock beyond the timeline of their current stars. But a more direct manifestation of that is their drafting of Jared McCain, their 16th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft who has, so far, looked like the best rookie in his class by a mile.
If the status quo does not waver and McCain keeps up his level of production, he should be the runaway favorite to win the coveted Rookie of the Year plum. Despite average showings before the campaign, he has already turned a lot of heads this season with his poise as a three-level scorer and star-like charisma.
The 2024 NBA Draft class was not highly-touted, and most players taken before McCain, or basically ally the lottery picks, were more of long-terms projects than solidified, NBA-ready contributors. That is mainly the reason why McCain slid to the 76ers, though most draft projections had him even going lower than 16th.
The team that immediately picked before them, however, is probably is already kicking itself for allowing McCain to be nabbed by Philly. The Miami Heat, owners of the 15th overall selection, instead went with Kel’el Ware, the Indiana standout who has barely even played for them.
Heat fans were expecting Erik Spoelstra to give Ware early reps at center next to Bam Adebayo or even as a nominal second-unit enforcer, but the reality could not be any more different. The rookie center has only sniffed the court for approximately 60 minutes all season long, looking really raw and far from ready to contribute for Miami.
Jimmy Butler and company could have used McCain much more, especially with their unstable play at the guard positions outside of Tyler Herro. Terry Rozier in particular has looked really slow and out-of-character this season, and McCain would have been a much better fit for a Heat team in need of more shot creators.
All these, of course, redound to the 76ers’ benefit. Miami is a direct rival of theirs, and weakening a big contender — albeit, thanks to their own doing — plays perfectly to what they want.
Luckily, the Philadelphia 76ers kept their pick, and as kismut would have it, Jared McCain slid to them. Otherwise, he could have gone somewhere else where he could have similarly flourished in, much to the franchise’s detriment.