Daryl Morey has long been known as one of the NBA’s most innovative executives - a front-office mind who blends analytics with bold roster construction. But if there’s one skill he’s truly mastered over the years, it might be navigating the luxury tax line like a seasoned tightrope walker.
On Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers pulled off a surprising trade, sending 21-year-old guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for draft picks. The move pushed the Sixers under the luxury tax threshold, just ahead of the league’s Feb. 5 trade deadline. For a team sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference, this wasn’t the kind of win-now move fans might have expected - especially not with the playoffs looming and roster depth already stretched thin.
McCain’s Upside Could Be a Steal for OKC
Let’s be clear: Jared McCain isn’t just another young guard. Before a meniscus tear cut his rookie season short, he was turning heads around the league.
In just 23 games, McCain averaged 15.3 points in 25.7 minutes per game, shooting a highly efficient 46% from the field and 38.3% from deep. That kind of production - especially from a rookie - doesn’t go unnoticed.
In fact, it earned him a seventh-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting, despite missing more than half the season.
This year, McCain’s development hit another speed bump when a torn thumb ligament sidelined him to start the season. By the time he returned, the rotation had shifted.
VJ Edgecombe, the Sixers’ No. 3 overall pick in 2025, had carved out a spot, and Quentin Grimes was getting consistent minutes. Even so, McCain’s shooting touch hasn’t faded - he’s hit 19 of his last 39 three-point attempts in 2026, a scorching 48.7% clip that showcases the elite-level perimeter game that made him such an intriguing prospect in the first place.
And yet, despite that upside, the Sixers opted to move on - not for veteran help or roster balance, but for financial flexibility. In return, they received a 2026 first-round pick from the Houston Rockets and three second-rounders. That’s the kind of package that might eventually yield a player like McCain - but it’s far from a sure thing.
A Familiar Pattern in Morey’s Playbook
This isn’t the first time Daryl Morey has prioritized cap maneuvering over roster continuity. In fact, it’s something of a calling card.
Back in his Houston Rockets days, Morey made a series of moves aimed at trimming the tax bill, even when the team was in the thick of contention. In 2019, just a year after the Rockets pushed the dynastic Warriors to the brink, Morey spent the season shaving $21 million off the tax line.
That included trading away James Ennis for a second-round pick swap - not exactly a win-now move - and keeping the roster at just 13 players for long stretches. The result?
Another playoff loss to Golden State.
The pattern goes back even further. In 2017, Morey again made moves to get under the cap at the deadline.
In 2016, a trade that would’ve done the job fell through only because Donatas Motiejunas failed his physical. Whether it’s the Rockets or the Sixers, Morey has consistently shown a willingness to sacrifice short-term talent for long-term financial breathing room.
The Cost of Financial Flexibility
The Sixers’ current situation adds another layer of intrigue. With Paul George serving a 25-game suspension - and unavailable until late March - the team is already short-handed. George’s unpaid suspension shaved $11.7 million off Philly’s payroll, creating just enough room for Morey to execute the McCain trade and duck the tax.
But the question lingers: was it worth it?
McCain may not have been a core rotation piece this season, but his shooting and upside made him a valuable asset - especially for a team with championship aspirations. Now, with no player coming back in return, the Sixers are down a promising young guard and still missing a star wing until the final stretch of the regular season.
This marks the third straight year Morey has pulled off a tax-saving move at the deadline in Philadelphia. And while the front office may argue that it’s about long-term planning and flexibility, the cost - in terms of talent and depth - is starting to add up.
It’s also worth noting: Sixers owner Josh Harris, whose net worth is estimated north of $10 billion, is hardly strapped for cash. Yet once again, the organization is leaning toward fiscal restraint instead of pushing all-in on a roster that, at least on paper, has the pieces to make noise in the playoffs.
Whether this move pays off down the line remains to be seen. But in the short term, the Sixers just traded a 21-year-old sharpshooter with real upside - and got nothing but future lottery tickets in return.