76ers’ risky deadline trade makes their Quentin Grimes situation even stranger

The Philadelphia 76ers did not want to give Quentin Grimes a longterm contract this summer — that’s what led to him taking a one-year qualifying offer, which will make him an unrestricted free agent after this season. It was a frustrating process, but the result made sense for the team, which was already stacked with young guards Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Jared McCain.

Of course, McCain was dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline, which makes this whole situation confounding. If the plan was to trade McCain, why not sign Grimes for multiple years? If the plan wasn’t to trade McCain, and that was a spontaneous decision from GM Daryl Morey, then the team must have a lot of confidence in its ability to re-sign Grimes this summer — a confidence I do not share.

Is the plan to simply have two great young guards and search elsewhere for depth options? That’s not a horrible strategy, I guess, but McCain on a rookie contract seemed to be that perfect depth option, and now he’s in Oklahoma. For the most part, I trust Daryl Morey as a roster-builder. But I do not see the vision here at all.

76ers trading Jared McCain makes future of the backcourt unclear

Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe are the starting backcourt for the 76ers for years to come. That much is obvious, and that’s about as good a duo as Philly fans could ask for.

But even with the workhorse minutes load Nick Nurse gives both of these guys each game, a team needs more than two guards. That’s why Morey saying the team “sold high” on McCain is so strange. Why did they “sell” at all, especially with Grimes on an expiring deal, and a reunion in the offseason feeling very unlikely after the mess of last summer’s negotiations?

Yes, McCain looked rusty after coming back from a torn meniscus, and yes Grimes got off to a scorching start. But if those are the factors that led to McCain’s trade, then I fully disagree with the front office’s handling of the backcourt.

If Grimes signs elsewhere in the offseason, what’s the best-case scenario for the Sixers’ backcourt behind Maxey and Edgecombe — finding someone as good as Jared McCain, who’s set to make $4 million next season?

And if the Sixers traded McCain because they don’t see a place for him in the rotation longterm, then there might be some bigger problems here.