The Philadelphia 76ers had a notably subdued presence during last month’s trade deadline, a scenario that sources suggest was not due to a lack of ambition on their part. According to Kevin O’Connor from Yahoo Sports, Sixers president Daryl Morey was actively engaged in what he referred to as “star hunting” prior to the February 5 deadline, with Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard being one of the rumored targets.
Despite the speculation, Leonard remained with the Clippers, while the 76ers watched as the Clippers traded star guard James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers. This move has complicated Philadelphia’s quest for a competitive edge in the Eastern Conference, particularly as the playoff race intensifies.
Instead of securing a marquee player, the 76ers opted to trade second-year guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder in return for a 2026 first-round pick and three second-round picks. McCain had an average of 6.6 points per game over 37 appearances with Philadelphia, but he has since found a more significant scoring role with the Thunder, averaging 12.5 points in his first 11 games with them.
Commenting on the situation, O’Connor noted, “Nothing happened.” The absence of new talent means Philadelphia’s star players, including Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, have only seen the team part with McCain while failing to acquire support to improve their playoff prospects.
With a current record of 33-28, the 76ers sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. After falling short of the playoffs last year, Philadelphia has a strong incentive to improve this season, but their lack of new star power raises concerns about their ability to compete against their rivals in the conference. Nonetheless, the season is still ongoing, and there remains an opportunity for the 76ers to rally and make a postseason push. Combining their current roster’s talent with determination could potentially turn the tide in their favor as the playoffs approach.