Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey did his best to explain the controversial deadline deal that sent Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder sent four draft picks, including a 2026 first-rounder from the Houston Rockets, to Philadelphia in exchange for the second-year guard.

Morey told reporters on Friday that he understands the fan outrage about the deal stems from their excitement about where the 76ers find themselves in the Eastern Conference hierarchy right now.

Talking about why he felt like this was a good move for the Sixers, Morey explained they attempted to repackage the picks they acquired in other deals that didn’t materialized but he still believes the return was worth the risk.

One thing Morey did emphasize is that this trade was not a financially motivated move to keep the Sixers out of the luxury tax.

The 76ers were around $1.3 million over the tax threshold before the trade deadline. Moving off of McCain’s $4.2 million salary this season got them under the tax line. They did help their draft capital since their own pick is likely to convey to Oklahoma City, so they get control of Houston’s selection that is currently at No. 23 overall.

McCain is one year removed from being a first-round pick by the Sixers. He was selected No. 16 overall in the 2024 draft and turned into a bright spot during his brief time on the court before a knee injury ended his debut season prematurely.

The Duke alum averaged 15.3 points on 38.3 percent three-point shooting in 23 appearances as a rookie. VJ Edgecombe’s arrival in the 2025 draft has cut into McCain’s playing time, causing his numbers to go down dramatically.

McCain averaged just 6.6 points on 37.8 percent three-point shooting in 37 appearances prior to the trade.

Even though there weren’t a lot of minutes available to McCain, it seems risky to give up on a 21-year-old who showed as much promise as he has after just 60 games played. He has an inexpensive contract with a $4.4 million salary in 2026-27 and a $6.8 million team option for 2027-28.

If the Sixers do end up turning their additional draft capital into valuable assets that help them win big in the future, this deal will be a blip on the radar. If McCain turns into a quality player for the Thunder, though, it could turn into a huge blunder by Morey.