Philadelphia 76ers select Duke guard Jared McCain with 16th pick in 2024 NBA Draft

With the No. 16 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Jared McCain, a one-and-done guard from Duke University.

76ers draft Jared McCain from Duke with the No. 16 Overall Pick in the 2024 NBA Draft

with the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Philadelphia 76ers select…@J_mccain_24‼️ pic.twitter.com/bfSnuIHdzZ

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) June 27, 2024

Standing at 6’3 and weighing 197 pounds, Jared McCain is a one-and-done player who averaged 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.

He achieved remarkable efficiency, with a 61.1% true-shooting and an impressive 41.4% from three, attempting 5.8 shots per game during his lone season at Duke.

Jared McCain’s strengths/weaknesses

Strength: Jared McCain excels at high-volume perimeter shooting, with a skill for hitting spot-up threes and using screens on and off the ball. He also brings a competitive nature, particularly evident in his high-level reading of passing lanes and on the defensive end of the basketball court.

Weakness: McCain needs to work on his playmaking and slashing to reduce his reliance on jump shots and a “shoot-first mindset” that won’t work well on the court with two offense-dominant players like Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.

NBA Comparison: Seth Curry, but with a more talented defensive skillset along the perimeter.

41.4% from three on 5.8 attempts is all I gotta say. Grand-slam of a pick by Daryl Morey and the Sixers

pic.twitter.com/QdhDIPtXfm

— Jacob Moreno (@jmoreno76ers) June 27, 2024

Jared McCain does have the ability to be a perfect fit alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, as he can create spacing all over the basketball court.

Picture him and Embiid with a strong dribble-handoff connection, similar to what Embiid had with JJ Redick. McCain will have plenty of open perimeter looks and definitely has what it takes to knock down a bunch of shots – which is great given how much attention both Maxey and Embiid get from opposing defenses.

Jared McCain’s roster implications

Jared McCain’s rookie scale contract is projected to pay him approximately $4 million per year in both his rookie and sophomore seasons. McCain will have a $4.4 million team option at the end of the 2026-2027 season and another $6.8 team option after the 2027-2028 season. 

With veterans such as Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith now reportedly on the trade block, along with literally everyone else on the Brooklyn Nets after last night’s departure of Mikal Bridges, there was a strong assumption that the 76ers would trade the 16th overall pick.

That turned out to be true.

Unfortunately, Daryl Morey and company couldn’t find a single trade to their liking tonight which definitely raises some questions as to why that would be the case but that’s neither here nor there at this point.

Jared McCain is now with the Philadelphia 76ers and the organization still has a ton of draft capital to continue to build a roster around Embiid and Maxey.

let’s get to work. 😤🤩 pic.twitter.com/tNeNMfwxuM

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) June 27, 2024

McCain appears to be elated after being selected by the 76ers and ready to help Philadelphia compete for a championship:

“There’s no words to describe it. I’m so grateful for this opportunity. I have no words… I’m going to do anything I can to bring home a championship.”” (via ESPN’s Monica McNutt).”

Mandatory Credit: (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)