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At one point last season, Jared McCain looked ticketed for stardom with the Philadelphia 76ers.
But after a pair of injuries, the 76ers dealt him to the Oklahoma City Thunder for four draft picks. It already looks like a bad move.
In 11 games with the defending NBA champion Thunder, McCain looks revitalized and confident with the ball in his hands. He's averaging 12.5 points in 19.9 points per game, shooting 43 percent from 3-point range as the Thunder keep hold of the top seed in the Western Conference.
MORE: 76ers-Thunder Jared McCain trade already looks incredibly one-sided
Why couldn't the 76ers stick it out with McCain, who looked like a Rookie of the Year frontrunner just a year ago? According to Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor, one reason is because 76ers executive Daryl Morey went star-hunting -- and he came up empty.
Trading McCain became a way for 76ers owner Josh Harris to duck the luxury tax when Morey could not lure another star to play alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Executives around the league suspected Morey was trying to get Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers, but no move materialized.
Instead, the Thunder took a sweetheart deal for McCain, for whom Philly coach Nick Nurse could not find a spot in his rotation.
It is a story of two organizations seemingly on different tracks. The Thunder are hoping to repeat as NBA champions, and their young core gives them a chance to continue competing deep into the future. The 76ers have Embiid and Paul George signed to enormous contracts, with no viable path to breaking into the top tier of the Eastern Conference.
"Little moves" like this sustain contenders -- and end hopes for pretenders.
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