The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the NBA's most disappointing teams since the trade deadline, according to Bleacher Report.
The Philadelphia 76ers' decision to deal Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder at this year's trade deadline is aging terribly.
Not only is McCain shining with the Thunder, but with Tyrese Maxey sidelined for the 76ers, coach Nick Nurse could use additional guard play in the rotation.
Since trading McCain in early February, the 76ers have been rather disappointing as a team, dropping from the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference to the No. 9 seed as of Saturday afternoon. This is why Bleacher Report named Philadelphia as one of the NBA's most disappointing teams since the trade deadline.
"Sitting in 6th place with a 29-22 record at the trade deadline, the Philadelphia 76ers looked like they could be a real threat in the East playoffs," B/R's Greg Swartz wrote. "Life in Philly since early February has been nothing short of a disaster, however."
While it's true cutting ties with McCain appears to be a mistake, all the blame cannot fall on Daryl Morey and the front office. The absence of stars has derailed the 76ers' season, as Paul George, Joel Embiid, and Maxey have missed substantial time since early February.
Expecting a team led by rookie V.J. Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes to make a serious playoff push is simply unrealistic.
"This isn't just turning into a lost season, but a big-picture earthquake for a franchise that's been handcuffed by injuries and Paul George's suspension... Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are the only remaining hope that Philly has both this season and into the future, unless Daryl Morey can pull up some sort of blockbuster trade this summer," Swartz concluded.
The 76ers are in an awkward position by having a youthful backcourt and veteran stars. Time will tell if Morey and company commit to being a win-now team or look to build around Maxey and Edgecombe.
Regardless of the decision, the 2025-2026 season appears to be another one lost to injuries for the 76ers.
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