In a game that saw the Philadelphia 76ers manage just 12 points in the fourth quarter of a narrow 102–108 loss, fans couldn't help but wonder: what if they had kept Jared McCain?

The 2024 No. 16 overall draft pick, now thriving with the Oklahoma City Thunder, is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about young role players in the league—and a painful reminder for Sixers fans of what could have been.

McCain has been lights-out since joining the Thunder. Averaging 10.4 points in just 18 minutes per game after the trade, he shot an impressive 39% from three-point range during the regular season. But it’s his playoff performance that has everyone talking—especially his recent outing against the Los Angeles Lakers.

In Game 2, the former Duke standout logged a playoff career-high 17 minutes and 44 seconds, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting (63.6%) and a blistering 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. He didn’t play a single minute in the first quarter, but that didn’t faze him. McCain erupted in the second half, going 5-of-7 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 from deep, helping the Thunder maintain a seven-point lead heading into the fourth.

His performance didn’t go unnoticed by his superstar teammate. "Jared McCain was big time tonight. Shot making all over the floor. Barely played the first series, and he’s had huge minutes this series. Just speaks to his character and his work ethic," said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league's reigning MVP.

McCain's journey has been anything but linear. After a one-and-done season at Duke, he was drafted by the 76ers and played at a Rookie of the Year level before a torn meniscus sidelined him. Then, in February, the Thunder acquired the second-year guard—a move that now looks like an absolute steal.

For Philadelphia, the sting is real. Fans are left asking: what was the front office thinking? With a fourth-quarter collapse like that, a hot hand off the bench could have made all the difference.