Jared McCain's Meniscus Damage Presents a Nightmarish Situation for the Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers' disastrous 2024-25 campaign took a turn for the worse over the weekend.
Initially, star center Joel Embiid endured a nasal bone fracture on Friday after Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin mistakenly clashed heads with him during a rebound scuffle. He's been declared unavailable for Monday's encounter against the Charlotte Hornets, although the team hasn't provided any specifics on his return date.
The more significant setback followed on Saturday, with the 76ers disclosing that rookie guard Jared McCain would be going through an indefinite layoff due to a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee. The surgery required to address this issue will likely sideline him for 6 to 8 weeks, even if he opts for a less invasive meniscectomy as opposed to a comprehensive repair.
The 76ers, who have been plagued by injuries, will find this development particularly challenging. McCain had emerged as a significant source of positivity for the team, delivering strong performances despite the challenging circumstances.
McCain's Surprising Ascent
When the 76ers selected McCain with the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, expectations weren't particularly high for him. Joining an experienced squad that was expected to be a formidable title contender, McCain faced a daunting task in cracking the rotation as a novice.
Before his injury, McCain was priced at +3500 to be named Rookie of the Year. He shared the 13th-best odds with Miami's Kel'el Ware and Charlotte's Tidjane Salaun in this year's lineup, but he had defied these expectations with his exceptional performances.
The long-term injuries suffered by the 76ers at the start of the season presented McCain with a golden opportunity to gain some court time. He played sparingly during the opening games, yet impressed many with a 19-point outing against the Memphis Grizzlies in just 17 minutes.
With starting point guard Tyrese Maxey being sidelined due to a hamstring strain in early November, McCain was afforded a more substantial role. He scored over 20 points in seven consecutive matches, averaging 26.1 points on 50.8% overall and 45.6% from three-point range (on 9.7 attempts per game!) during this period.
As Maxey, Embiid, and Paul George returned to the fray, McCain's production began to diminish. He moved out of the starting lineup and assumed a smaller role off the bench. Nevertheless, the expanded early-season opportunities provided the 76ers with a glimmer of hope that they had unearthed a valuable asset with their mid-round selection.
The 76ers' Way Forward
Maxey's hamstring injury has since healed, ensuring he will continue to be the 76ers' primary point guard. The 76ers will be most affected by McCain's absence when Maxey is rested.
Their alternatives at this position comprise veteran guard Kyle Lowry, who has struggled with a meager 37.3% shooting percentage so far, 34-year-old Reggie Jackson, and Jeff Dowtin Jr., who fails to match up with an abysmal 31.6% overall shooting performance and a dismal 12.5% from beyond the arc.
Eric Gordon, touted as a secondary ball-handler off the bench, has been disappointing this season. He has averaged only 4.8 points and 1.3 assists in 16.5 minutes, while shooting a woeful 32.5% overall and 23.8% from three-point range. His numbers last year with the Phoenix Suns were dramatically different at an impressive 38% from three-point territory with more than double the volume.
The 76ers could investigate the free-agent market to reinforce their ball-handling abilities if Lowry, Jackson, and Gordon falter. Markelle Fultz and Dennis Smith Jr. are among the available point guards who haven't signed up with a team yet, and the 76ers hold an open roster slot. However, they are reportedly aiming to preserve as much roster and salary-cap flexibility as possible in the coming weeks, according to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
If the 76ers decide to maintain their open roster slot, they will have greater flexibility ahead of the NBA's February 6 trade deadline. They could potentially pull off a 2-for-1 or 3-for-2 trade without needing to waive any players. The downside is that relying on Lowry, Jackson, and Gordon to fill McCain's absence could lead to further sliding in the standings prior to the trade deadline.
Belonging to the Eastern Conference might serve as a saving grace in this regard. The 11-15 Brooklyn Nets announced a trade of their starting point guard Dennis Schroeder to the Golden State Warriors for De'Anthony Melton, who will be unavailable for the remainder of the season due to an ACL tear. Despite a record of 7-16, the 76ers are just two games behind the Nets for the tenth seed in the East – the final berth for the play-in tournament.
Nevertheless, considering the myriad injuries plaguing the 76ers this season, it seems highly unlikely that they will claw their way out of this early-season predicament and contend for a championship prior to April. McCain's absence serves as yet another blow to this embattled side.
Except mentioned otherwise, stats sourced from NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. Salary details from Spotrac, while salary-cap info from RealGM. Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook**.
- Despite the setback with Jared McCain's meniscus injury, the Philadelphia 76ers will rely on veterans Reggie Jackson and Kyle Lowry to fill the void at guard while McCain recovers.
- With McCain unlikely to return for at least 6 to 8 weeks due to his meniscus injury, the 76ers, who are already battling several injuries, will face a challenging period, particularly when star point guard Tyrese Maxey gets rested.
- Prior to his injury, Jared McCain had been a bright spot for the Philadelphia 76ers, with impressive performances earning him +3500 odds to win the Rookie of the Year award, despite initially low expectations following his mid-round draft selection.
