Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor and NBA contributing writer Tom Haberstroh discuss how the Thunder got better by adding Jared McCain while trying to figure out what Philadelphia was doing at the deadline. Check out the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
The Sixers, to me, are the biggest loser of the trade deadline.
Philadelphia giving up Jared McCain- … a guy who looked like the Rookie of the Year a year ago, prior to his injury, looked more like himself these past few weeks after a slow start to the year.
And you give him up to duck the luxury tax for a mid-first round draft pick from the Rockets this year, three second round draft picks that aren’t even that good.
One of those seconds is from Oklahoma City, all the way in 2028, a 2027 second round pick, and another one from the Bucks in 2028.
You get these middling picks for Jared McCain, one of your most promising young players, to duck the tax?
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Just a joke!
I, I, if I’m a Sixers fan, I’m infuriated, Tom.
I’m just- I’m pissed off about this situation, where you enter the year with V.J.
Edgecombe, and Tyrese Maxey, and Jared McCain, these good young players, and you deal one of them to, to cut cost?
It’s a joke.
Just days after Joel Embiid, in front of the media, said, “I hope we don’t duck the tax,” and that’s exactly what they did, in part ’cause they got lucky with the Paul George 25-game suspension, lowering their luxury tax bill ’cause of the 11, $12 million he’s gonna lose.
The Sixers, losers this trade deadline.
It’s just so disappointing for Philadelphia, man.
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I wonder if they were ramping up for a Giannis trade, and it didn’t work out.
I bet I- No.
I bet that Daryl Morey, once again- I don’t, I don’t think so, Tom … wanted- I, I don’t think so.
I, I think they’re just cheap, and that’s it.