The Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday assigned Jared McCain to the Delaware Blue Coats as a way to get the second-year guard up to speed after a delayed start to his season.

McCain has played three games for the 76ers. He hasn’t scored in any of them, shooting 0-for-9 in 31 minutes with two rebounds, four assists and a steal. He’s recovering from the knee meniscus tear last December that ended his rookie season after 23 games and a preseason thumb ligament tear that required surgery and delayed his return.

One of the biggest missing components is basketball conditioning, McCain needing to find ways to be his usual, explosive self with a bulky brace on his knee.

“I just really want him to get some trips up and down the court,” coach Nick Nurse said after a practice Friday. “I think this is a good little window for him, a couple of home games for them, and then he’ll be right back in the swing of things.”

The hope is for McCain to play both Thursday night and Saturday in Delaware, meaning he’d miss Friday’s trip to Detroit for the big club, then be in play for games next week against the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto.

McCain shot 3-for-10 from the field, including 0-for-4 from 3-point range, for 10 points to go with two rebounds, three assists and two turnovers in 20 minutes against the Greensboro Swarm Thursday.

Both Joel Embiid and Paul George remain out Friday. Embiid is having his right knee evaluated after reporting soreness, having worked his way back from surgery on the meniscus in his left knee.

George remains in the final stages of recovery from his left knee surgery in July.

“He’s had a lot of good practices,” Nurse said. “He’s out there again today. They’re just trying to get some strength issues cleared up so that he’s really ready and limit the possibility of re-injury.”

Forward Dominick Barlow is ready to return. He’s been out since Oct. 25 with an elbow laceration. He averaged 7.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in the first two games of the season.

Rookie VJ Edgecombe landed on the injury report with back spasms. He’s questionable.