To say that Philadelphia 76ers fans were upset when the team traded second-year guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to the deadline in February would be an understatement.
McCain had quickly become a fan favorite in Philly due to his positive personality and his ability to knock down shots from long range, and just like that, he was gone.
But, the Sixers might get an opportunity to replace McCain in the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft with the first-round pick that they received from the Thunder in exchange for McCain. The pick technically belongs to the Houston Rockets and it is slated to be the No. 22 overall pick in the draft.
76ers Select Alabama Forward Amari Allen in First Round of 2026 NBA Mock Draft
In a mock draft for The Ringer, Kyle Mann sees the Sixers selecting Alabama freshman forward Amari Allen in the first round. Allen, a Wisconsin product, was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team after averaging 11.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.0 block per performance.
“For all of the heartache that Sixers fans felt over the way that the Jared McCain situation was handled and all the Squidward vibes felt while watching him smiling and reveling in his new experience in OKC, it’s time to let go of the past. Allen is a bigger version of that type of player, and one who could help everyone move on,” Mann wrote.
“Anyway, Allen is arguably (and quietly) the most talented connector guard in this class, as well as one of the best decision-makers. He’s got good positional size, his shot is progressing (though it has a ways to go), and he’s the type of player who could supplement whatever Philadelphia wants to do on offense.”
It remains to be seen what the Sixers will do in the first round of the draft, but Allen certainly has a skillset that should be intriguing for Philadelphia.
Jared McCain Remains Grateful for Philadelphia Despite Trade
Despite the fact that he was ultimately traded by the organization, McCain still holds a special place in his heart for the Sixers organization, since they were the team that drafted him and made his NBA dream come true.
“It’s obviously the greatest day of my life, being drafted, so I’ll always be thankful for Philly and to Daryl for drafting me,” McCain said upon his return to Philadelphia in March. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so I’ll never have any regret about being here or never have any attitude toward this organization. … There’s so many little things that this organization has helped me with that I’ll be forever grateful for. … Trying not to get too emotional, but I’m very thankful to the Sixers for allowing me to be who I am.”
McCain was especially fond of the fans in Philadelphia, who embraced him throughout his time with the team.
“I always loved the Philly fans,” McCain said. “They were always super nice to me whenever I went out. When I got hurt, coming back from it, they were just always super positive and super helpful, in my opinion. So shoutout to them for having my back, I guess, through this process … and just always being there for me. … Definitely love the Philly fans for life for sure.”
The feeling between McCain and the fans in Philadelphia was mutual, but if the Sixers are able to add an impact player with the pick that got in return for McCain, that would probably help the fanbase to get over his departure.
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