The Philadelphia 76ers have assigned Jared McCain to the Delaware Blue Coats, their NBA G League affiliate, the team announced on Thursday afternoon. McCain is expected to play for the Blue Coats in their games on both Thursday and Saturday before coming back to Philadelphia.
Since returning from both knee and thumb injuries, McCain has looked far from his normal self. Head coach Nick Nurse has relegated him to short stints as he continues to regain his conditioning. In three games, McCain has gone scoreless while playing 10.3 minutes per contest.
McCain, who has been playing with a knee brace, spoke to reporters after the Sixers’ loss to the Detroit Pistons, about his struggles adjusting to playing with a brace.
“I’m getting better with it,” McCain said, via Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia. “We’re trying some different things, just trying to see how it feels with different sleeves over it. Sometimes I feel like I’m about to fall over when I’m running. But just getting used to it. It’s going to take time, but I think I’ve gotten a little bit better with it.”
Sending McCain to Delaware should allow him to get more playing time as he gets more acclimated to game action. He will continue to be on a minutes restriction, according to Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice. The expectation is that a few games in the G League should help McCain recover his conditioning while also allowing him to regain the rhythm and confidence that had him on the fast track to winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award last season before tearing his meniscus in mid-December.
“I just really want him to get some trips up and down the court,” Nurse said after practice on Thursday. “I think this is a good little window for him. Couple of home games for them, and then he’ll be right back in the swing of things. And we’re keeping him right here, making sure he’s up to date with everything and all that stuff.”
In addition to the McCain news, the Sixers also gave an injury update about another one of their key players. Dominick Barlow, after missing the last nine games with a right elbow laceration, is set to return against the Pistons on Friday. Paul George will continue to be out of the lineup. Joel Embiid’s status against the Pistons has yet to be determined.