The Philadelphia 76ers could look to acquire one of these inexperienced guards on the trade market this offseason.
The Philadelphia 76ers' decision to trade sophomore guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder is aging horribly.
Not only is McCain performing well in Oklahoma City, but it limits the depth and upside the 76ers' backcourt has. All-Star starter Tyrese Maxey and rookie V.J. Edgecombe are the lone guards under contract past this season for Philadelphia.
Cameron Payne and Quentin Grimes are set to hit free agency while Kyle Lowry is likely to call it a career. Chances are Philadelphia will attempt to retain Grimes if he doesn't ask for too lucrative a contract.
Because of this, Bleacher Report named the 76ers as a trade destination for two young guards: Miami Heat's Pelle Larsson and Minnesota Timberwolves' Terrence Shannon Jr.
"Pelle Larsson blurs the line between guard and wing thanks to his size. Though his three-pointer isn't reliable, he's shifty going downhill and boasts pretty good live-dribble vision," B/R's Dan Favale wrote.
Larsson, age 25, is having a strong sophomore season with the Heat. He is averaging 10.7 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.4 rebounds on 49.1% shooting and 32.5% shooting from three-point range in 56 games played.
While he doesn't offer the same upside or outside shooting as McCain did, he'd be a solid rotational piece for the Sixers.
Favale continued, "Terrence Shannon Jr. is supposed to offer standstill shooting, driving and ferocious defense. He's not doing that. Whether it's because of a lingering left foot injury or overestimation of his potential, who knows? He's cheap enough for the Sixers to try finding out."
Shannon would be a bit more of a high-upside swing for Philadelphia, as he hasn't shown much improvement from his rookie to sophomore season. However, it's worth noting he's playing just 11.8 minutes per game. In that limited time on the floor, the 25-year-old is averaging 4.3 points on 40.4% shooting.
While neither of these acquisitions would take away the frustration from the McCain deal, both have the potential to positively impact the 76ers' rotation.
Join The 76ersRoundtable Community
Head over to the 76ersRoundtable page and hit the "Join" button under the featured story... it's completely FREE! You'll have the opportunity to engage with other 76ers fans who live and breathe the team, share your thoughts on the organization, and more. If you're asked to sign up or download the Roundtable app... that's free too.
Anthony Pasciolla is the publisher of 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached via email at ampasciolla@gmail.com or followed on X @AnthonyPasci.