The Philadelphia 76ers had a relatively quiet trade deadline-definitely quieter than what Joel Embiid was hoping for. But while the fireworks never came, President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey did offer some insight into the front office’s approach, even if the explanation left more questions than answers for some fans.
Let’s break down the two moves Philly did make and what they mean for the Sixers both now and down the road.
Jared McCain to the Thunder
This was the move that raised the most eyebrows. The Sixers sent promising second-year guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick (via Houston) and three second-round picks.
On paper, that’s a decent haul of draft capital, especially with 2026 shaping up to be a deep class. But the timing?
That’s where things get murky.
Morey admitted the plan was to flip those picks into an immediate contributor before the deadline. That second shoe never dropped. So instead of adding win-now talent to support Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and the current core, the Sixers essentially pushed their chips into the future.
Here’s how Morey explained it:
“I appreciate that perspective. I’m quite confident we were selling high.
Obviously, time will tell. We weren’t looking to sell.
I’ll be frank. Teams came to us with aggressive offers for him.
You could say, ‘Yeah, that’s because he’s a good player.’ I agree with that.
We thought this return was above, for the future value of our franchise, what we could get. The only higher point would’ve been during his run last season.
Otherwise, we feel like we did time this well.”
McCain, to be fair, has had a tough start to his NBA career. A meniscus tear in his left knee ended his rookie season after just 23 games, and a torn UCL in his right thumb delayed the start of his sophomore campaign.
But recently, he was starting to look like the player Philly hoped he’d become. In the five games leading up to his final appearance with the Sixers on Feb. 3 against Golden State, McCain shot a blistering 62.5% from three (14-for-25).
That’s not just hot shooting-it’s the kind of rhythm that turns heads across the league.
Now, McCain heads to the defending champion Thunder, adding another young, talented piece to a team already deep with upside and playoff experience. For the Sixers, the return feels more like a bet on long-term flexibility than a move to strengthen this season’s playoff run.
Final grade: D
The Sixers may have gotten decent value in terms of draft assets, but the lack of a follow-up move-and the fact that McCain was finally finding his form-makes this feel like a misstep in timing. If the goal is to compete now, this trade didn’t help.
Eric Gordon to the Grizzlies
This one was far more predictable. Eric Gordon played just six games for the Sixers this season and was more of a veteran presence in the locker room than a nightly contributor on the court. His mentorship, especially with younger players like Dominick Barlow, didn’t go unnoticed-Barlow publicly praised Gordon after the move-but from a roster-building standpoint, this was a low-impact transaction.
The Sixers sent Gordon to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for a 2032 second-round pick swap. Memphis then waived Gordon, allowing the 18-year vet to explore opportunities elsewhere as he looks to extend his career.
For Philadelphia, this was a cleanup move-clearing a roster spot and freeing up some flexibility without giving up anything of real consequence.
Final grade: C+
Nothing flashy here, but the Sixers did what they needed to. Gordon wasn’t in the rotation, and this opens the door for a potential buyout addition or a younger player to step up.
The Bigger Picture
The Sixers’ deadline left fans with a familiar feeling: waiting. Waiting for the next move.
Waiting for clarity. Waiting to see if this version of the team can truly contend.
Morey’s front office clearly values optionality and long-term planning, and there’s logic in acquiring assets that could be flipped down the line. But with Embiid in his prime and Maxey blossoming into an All-Star-caliber guard, the clock is ticking. This core needs help now, not just future picks.
If the Sixers can convert those assets into a high-impact player this summer, maybe this deadline will look smarter in hindsight. But in the moment, it feels like a missed opportunity-especially when one of your most promising young players was just starting to shine.