Philadelphia Sixers select former Duke guard Jared McCain in first ...

Published  June 27, 2024 6:35am EDT

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 26: Jared McCain (R) shakes hands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver (L) after being drafted 16th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers during the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 26, 2024 in the Brook

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia entered the offseason with basically a blank slate and lots of salary cap room to build out a roster around stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. 

The 76ers began that process by picking up a shooter in former Duke guard Jared McCain.

Team needs: Just about everything. Almost the entire team — players such as Kelly Oubre Jr., Kyle Lowry and Nic Batum — ended the season with an expired contract. Team president Daryl Morey has about $65 million in salary cap space, a max contract topping $200 million to offer Maxey and plenty of questions to solve on how to finally, truly build an NBA championship contender around Embiid.

Who did the 76ers draft: McCain. One-and-done player who rapidly became the Blue Devils’ toughest competitor. Made 41% of 3s and 89% of free throws. Had two 30-point showings in the NCAA Tournament. He had two 30-point games in the NCAA Tournament to lead Duke to the Elite Eight.

Player comparison: Knicks G Jalen Brunson. McCain is roughly the same size and the Knicks All-Star and enters the league about two years younger than the former Villanova star when he was drafted.