Sixers guard Jared McCain in the gym continuing way back from surgery
McCain then underwent surgery in December to repair a laterally torn meniscus in his left knee that caused him to miss the rest of the season. The Sixers missed his ability to score in a variety of ways, provide long range shooting, and ball-handling to a roster in need of it.
As McCain now prepares for his second season in the league, he is in the gym working his way back from the surgery as he looks to get back to hisself.
McCain will join a crowded backcourt led by himself, Tyrese Maxey, rookie VJ Edgecombe, and--likely--Quentin Grimes. There will be a healthy competition for minutes, but McCain figures to be in coach Nick Nurse's rotation as Philadelphia looks to take steps forward towards contention after a brief detour in the woods.
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USA Today
26 minutes ago
- USA Today
NBA Power Rankings: Where do Sixers stand after offseason moves?
The 2025 offseason is just about done in the NBA as the Philadelphia 76ers have wrapped up everything they want to do--except re-sign Quentin Grimes as that negotiation is ongoing. It was a rather quiet offseason for the Sixers as the focus remains on the star trio, but Philadelphia made important moves around the margins. In terms of the rest of the league, the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers are entering gap years due to the unfortunate injuries to Jayson Tatum for Boston and Tyrese Haliburton for Indiana. The New York Knicks figure to be the favorites in the East, while the Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, the Sixers, and others are lurking, health permitting. The Western Conference figures to be another battle. The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder will be the favorites followed by the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and, of course, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers. The West figures to be a real gauntlet in the 2025-26 season. With that said, here is a look at the power rankings at this stage of the offseason: 30. Utah Jazz The Jazz will look much different after moving on from Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, and Collin Sexton, who were three of Utah's top five scorers from the 2024-25 season. The focus will be on rookies Ace Bailey--the No. 5 overall pick in the draft--and Walter Clayton Jr.--the No. 18 pick. The next order of business will be figuring out a potential trade of Lauri Markkanen. 29. Brooklyn Nets The Nets made a record five first-round picks in the draft back in June led by No. 8 overall pick Egor Demin. Brooklyn did acquire veteran Michael Porter Jr. from the Nuggets and he figures to play a role for the Nets, but in terms of winning games, that will come second in Brooklyn with the focus remaining on development and losing enough to be in position to draft AJ Dybansta in 2026. 28. Washington Wizards The Wizards figure to take a big step forward in 2025-26. They have a young core in place led by Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, Bilal Coulibaly, and Alex Sarr and they are supported by respected veterans Khris Middleton and CJ McCollum. Throw in the additions of Cam Whitmore and Malaki Branham and the Wizards will be a tougher out in the future. 27. Charlotte Hornets The Hornets are a tough team to project. They have a lot of talent on paper led by LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, and rookie Kon Knueppel, but they can never put it together. Part of that is injuries as Miller was limited to only 27 games in the 2024-25 season and Ball has dealt with his issues in the past, but if they can stay on the floor together, Charlotte has the potential to finally move forward. 26. New Orleans Pelicans Another tough team to project due to injuries is this Pelicans team. When New Orleans has its full complement of players such as Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray, and Trey Murphy III, then the Pels should be a playoff team. The issue is, for as great as Williamson is, he is a huge question mark in terms of his availability on the floor. Not to mention the Pels making a weird trade sending an unprotected 2026 draft pick to move up 10 spots in the 2025 draft as well as lottery pick Derik Queen undergo wrist surgery. 25. Phoenix Suns Well, now what? The Suns were just two wins away from a championship back in 2021 and then was the No. 1 seed in 2022 before then making big moves for Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. The Durant-Beal-Devin Booker trio was expected to lead the Suns to a title. Instead, Phoenix didn't even win a single playoff game during their time with the team and they're now both gone. The focus is on Booker and Jalen Green to lead the way. 24. Chicago Bulls What are the Bulls doing? Nobody seems to know. They are a team destined to be stuck in the middle. There are some good pieces in Chicago, but management has to figure out the Nikola Vucevic situation. Can the Bulls find a deal for him? Or are they going to have to waive him? Either way, the focus for the Bulls should be on getting younger and rebuilding a bit. 23. Sacramento Kings Another team stuck in the middle is the Kings. A team once considered on the rise after their playoff run in 2023, the Kings have gone backward and they now have to decide if it's worth moving forward with Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis as their core. Either way, Sacramento has to keep Keegan Murray as he is somebody who can be a part of the future. 22. Toronto Raptors The Raptors roster However, there is talent. Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, and Brandon Ingram should form a nice quartet and make Toronto competitive again in the near future. While those four should not be considered a championship core, the Raptors can certainly win enough to at least challenge for a playoff spot in 2026. They should at least be in the play-in. 21. Portland Trail Blazers Welcome back, Damian Lillard. The Blazers brought back the franchise icon as well as Jrue Holiday in an effort to help push the youngsters forward. Portland played well after the All-Star break in 2025 as coach Chauncey Billups was able to earn a contract extension in the Pacific Northwest. As long as Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and Hansen Yang continue to move forward, then the Blazers will be in good shape. 20. Indiana Pacers The Pacers are fresh off a heartbreaking finish in the finals when star guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles early in Game 7. Indiana was so close to winning the franchise's first championship and to have it end like that was gut wrenching to watch. Looking ahead to 2025-26, the Pacers return Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith, but won't have Haliburton or Myles Turner after he left for the Bucks in the offseason. 19. Philadelphia 76ers Yet another team that's just so hard to predict. If Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey will be on the floor, then the Sixers will be in the mix for contention in 2026. However, Embiid didn't exactly give any real confidence that he will be ready to go when he couldn't give a timeline for his return in an interview with ESPN. George also just underwent offseason knee surgery. This is a strong roster, but it won't matter if Embiid can't be healthy and ready for when it matters most. 18. Boston Celtics Like the Pacers, the Celtics are entering a gap year. With Jayson Tatum expected to miss the entirety of the 2025-26 season, and having to move on from Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, the Cs are not going to be in the conversation. Jaylen Brown, Anfernee Simons, Derrick White, and Georges Niang are going to keep Boston competitive, but title contenders? No longer. 17. Miami Heat The Heat still need a point guard. While Tyler Herro is an All-Star and he can score the ball with the best of them, he should move over to the 2-guard spot where his scoring ability can be utilized more. Either way, the duo of Bam Adebayo and Herro will look to lead Miami back up the ladder in the East. The addition of Norman Powell will be a nice addition as somebody who can knock down open 3s and be a pest defensively,. 16. Milwaukee Bucks The Bucks will still win games because of how great Giannis Antetokounmpo is, but the addition of Myles Turner is not going to all of a sudden jolt them to the top of the East again. The Damian Lillard idea didn't work the way the Bucks had hoped so it's going to be a bit of a restart for Milwaukee as it once again looks to get back to the top while Antetokounmpo is still at his peak. 15. San Antonio Spurs The Spurs will be an interesting team to watch. While Victor Wembanyama is a phenom, the guard rotation will be one to watch. De'Aaron Fox has been brought back on an extension and coach Mitch Johnson must figure out the rotation with Fox, reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, and No. 2 overall pick Dylan Harper. All talented players, but the Spurs have to figure out who gets the minutes and the ball. 14. Memphis Grizzlies Last time we all saw the Grizzlies, they were getting swept out of the first round by the Thunder. With that being said, the Grizz are still a tough team to play against. Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. form a formidable duo and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will provide veteran experience at the 2-guard spot as well as an ability to knock down open 3s. 13. Dallas Mavericks On paper, this Mavericks roster is talented as ever. The Mavs were blessed with the No. 1 pick so they selected phenom Cooper Flagg to add to a roster featuring Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, and D'Angelo Russell in the 2025-26 season. It will hurt Dallas not to see Kyrie Irving suit up for a bit after suffering his ACL injury in 2025, but the Mavericks are moving in the right direction. This is a super talented roster. 12. Detroit Pistons The Pistons are on the up and up as star guard Cade Cunningham is clearly taking the next step forward and the return of Jaden Ivey will certainly help. Detroit did lose Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency as well as Malik Beasley--at least temporarily--as he is under federal investigation related to prop bets, but they did replace them with Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson in free agency. The Pistons should be a top 6 team in the East when the playoffs roll around in 2026. 11. Los Angeles Lakers Crisis was averted for the Lakers when they were able to ink Luka Doncic to an extension to keep him in LA for the foreseeable future. LeBron James' future? Not as clear. There were rumors in the offseason that James might want a trade out of LA, but it's hard to really put together a realistic package for the superstar forward so the Lakers will move forward with Doncic and James leading the way. Not a bad pairing to lean on. 10. Atlanta Hawks It's understandable to be high on the Hawks. Led by Trae Young, this Hawks roster is strong. Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, Zaccharie Risacher, Onyeka Okongwu, and Kristaps Porzingis is a strong cast of players. Health will be a big word for them--as it is for a ton of other teams--but Atlanta is in a great position for the upcoming season. 9. Golden State Warriors The first full season of Jimmy Butler in The Bay should result in Golden State being a much higher seed than No. 7 in 2025-26. While the Jonathan Kuminga situation is still hanging over their heads, the Warriors will be in the mix for a top 5 seed as long as Butler, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green are around. One believes that if Curry had not gotten hurt in the playoffs, the Warriors likely would have gotten past the Timberwolves. 8. Los Angeles Clippers The Clippers are back with an older group of players. The additions of Bradley Beal and Chris Paul joining James Harden and Kawhi Leonard look good on paper. The issue is, this is 2025. Not 2017. The Clippers will win a lot of games. There is no doubt about that. The big issue will be in the playoffs whether they are going to be able to have enough gas in the tank to lead LA on a deep run. 7. Orlando Magic The Magic finally added a player who can score from the perimeter with the addition of Desmond Bane. With the focus so much on Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic have been in need for somebody who could take pressure off them with an ability to score the ball from the perimeter whether that's with shooting or ball-handling. Bane fits that mold. Throw in Tyus Jones and Orlando had a terrific offseason. 6. Minnesota Timberwolves The 2025 playoffs ended the same way the 2024 postseason did for the Timberwolves: a 5-game loss in the Western Conference finals. Once again, the Wolves went deep into the postseason, but Anthony Edwards and Co. were unable to get over the hump. They return Julius Randle and Naz Reid on new deals and will look to find eventual replacements for Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert as they move foward. 5. Cleveland Cavaliers The Cavs once again suffered injuries in the 2025 playoffs as Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and others were limping through the postseason. Unfortunately for Cleveland, it was unable to overcome the Pacers as Donovan Mitchell was not enough to get the job done. Heading into 2025-26, the addition of Lonzo Ball will be a big help should Garland miss time for Cleveland. 4. New York Knicks The Knicks have to be considered the favorites in the East. They were two wins away from the finals in 2025 and return their core of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart. Throw in the addition of Guerschon Yabusele for the bench unit and the Knicks will feature a strong roster. 3. Denver Nuggets The Nuggets had a helluva offseason. The additions of Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas are huge in terms of depth for the bench unit. The trade acquisition of Cam Johnson will do a lot of great things as well around Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon. The Nuggets should absolutely be in the running for a title in 2026. 2. Houston Rockets Kevin Durant. The Rockets were able to add one of the best scorers this game has ever seen to a roster that was in need of a takeover guy. The core of Durant, Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, and Amen Thompson will make Houston a legitimate contender in the coming season. The addition of Dorian Finney-Smith will also be a big help for the Rockets on their title contention path. 1. Oklahoma City Thunder The Thunder didn't make any big moves to the roster outside of adding rookies Thomas Sorber and Brooks Barnhizer, but they didn't really need to. The defending champs are led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as well as Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Alex Caruso. This team is as deep as they come and are only going to get better. As the Thunder move forward, only the injury bug could slow them down.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Saquon Barkley: Jihaad Campbell will be a problem for other teams
Eagles first-round pick Jihaad Campbell said last month that he was taking his time returning from shoulder surgery in order to be the best version of himself once training camp got underway and it appears that approach worked out well for him. The linebacker has been given a lot to do in practice with Nakobe Dean and Zack Baun dealing with injuries of their own and the rookie's performance has won him a big fan on the other side of the ball. Running back Saquon Barkley said that Campbell has been "probably too aggressive" when it comes to hitting his own teammates in practice, but that approach is one that Barkley thinks will bode well for Campbell against guys in other uniforms. 'Super raw, like freaky athletic,' Barkley said, via Reuben Frank of 'He's going to be a problem, a real big problem for a lot of guys in the league who have to go against him and block him.' Campbell could also see time as an edge rusher and Barkley made a comparison to another player who has shown an ability to impact games from various spots. Barkley said Campbell is "kind of built like" Micah Parsons and the entire Eagles defense will likely be a problem if his play bears any resemblance to the Cowboys star.
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Kyle Schwarber can't stop launching dingers. Plus: 2 predictions for the MLB playoff field
The Windup Newsletter ⚾ | This is The Athletic's MLB newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Windup directly in your inbox. Kyle Schwarber just keeps hitting dingers, and he cannot be stopped. Plus: We consider what might be learned from the Savannah Bananas, plus a way-too-early playoff preview, and Ken tells us how the Padres convinced the A's to part with Mason Miller. I'm Levi Weaver, here with Ken Rosenthal — welcome to The Windup! At least once a month, I see Kyle Schwarber's name in a headline, and my brain returns to a phrase from last June: 'everyman slugger with an empathetic spirit.' The 'everyman' moniker is intended to describe Schwarber's personality, though. Not his power. After winning the All-Star Game MVP by hitting home runs on three consecutive swings to give the NL the swing-off win, Schwarber has stayed hot in the second half. Advertisement Since that All-Star Game, the Phillies slugger has hit 10 home runs in 16 games, including a two-run homer and a grand slam last night, giving him 40 on the year (and 324 in his career, third among active players 32 or younger). Only Cal Raleigh (42) has more this year. As Charlotte Varnes writes here, not only is Schwarber rounding into form as the second half takes shape, but the Phillies offense is catching up with their pitching, which has been a strength all year. Last night's win — in which Schwarber drove home six of the team's 13 runs — paired with a Mets loss in extra innings (their sixth loss in seven games) to mean the Phillies now have a 1 1/2-game lead in the NL East. That's not an insurmountable lead by any means. But for a team that was five back in mid-June, it is further evidence that they're legit. From my latest notes column: Initially, the Athletics had no intention of even discussing Mason Miller with the Padres. The A's were targeting upper-level pitching prospects. In their estimation, the Padres didn't have enough. Padres general manager A.J. Preller asked the A's to supply the names of pitching prospects they wanted from other clubs, with the idea of acquiring those players to obtain Miller in a multi-team deal, according to sources briefed on the discussions. It was typical Preller. Tell him he can't get a player one way, and he'll try another. But the A's did not want to complicate this. If they were going to trade Miller, it was going to be a team they could deal with directly. And the three clubs they identified as most likely to meet their price were the Phillies, Mets and Yankees. All three clubs turned to other options, declining to go to the same lengths the Padres did to acquire Miller for four additional years, sources with each of those teams said. How, then, did the Padres come away with Miller? Preller cited two factors: the constant communication Padres assistant GM Josh Stein maintained with the Athletics, focusing mostly on left-handed starter JP Sears initially, and the A's realization that the Padres' system was strong enough to build an acceptable deal, one that would include Law's No. 13 prospect, shortstop Leo De Vries, and attractive young pitching as well. More here. For some, the Bananas are a new evolution of baseball, designed to maximize the fan experience and test the bounds of what's possible with bats, gloves and baseballs. Others feel a bit like Hank Hill telling his son Bobby: 'You're not making (baseball) better, you're just making (TikTok) worse.' I've felt a little of both since learning about the Bananas years ago. So yeah, I get both angles. Which made it very interesting to me when I saw Britt Ghiroli's headline: 'What can MLB learn from the Savannah Bananas?' No, we don't need a new rule that allows fans to record an out by catching a foul ball, and we don't need the Yankees to trade in their pinstripes for gaudy yellow uniforms. But there are some concepts that could help the game maintain its health for generations to come. Because if they don't … we might all be in for a Banana-ball reckoning somewhere around the third or fourth month of the 2027 lockout. I know, I know. We just got through the trade deadline. But I was looking at the standings last night, and I couldn't help but think: If nothing changes, this will already be an interesting October. Also, I expect changes. Here's where we stand right now. If the season ended after last night, the matchups would look like this: American League: Mariners vs. Astros Yankees vs. Red Sox Bye: Blue Jays, Tigers Advertisement National League: Padres vs. Phillies Mets vs. Cubs Bye: Brewers, Dodgers I would be so interested in every one of those matchups. Yankees-Red Sox in the postseason again? AL West rivalry? 2022 NLCS rematch? Pete Crow-Armstrong vs. the team that traded Pete Crow-Armstrong? I'm good with this. Start the playoffs tomorrow. I love it. Alas, I have two predictions about what I think will change between now and Oct. 1 … MLB's showcase events have largely been successful. The Field of Dreams game, the Rickwood Field game — most of the time, the league pulls it off really well. But thanks in part to the weather, some described the Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway as 'the MLB version of Fyre Fest.' It still set the regular-season attendance record, though, so there's that. More fallout from the Twins' fire sale: Dan Hayes says as many as a half-dozen teams inquired with Byron Buxton, who informed them he was not going to waive his no-trade clause. Jim Bowden has his superlatives from this year's deadline: the best and worst trade, the weirdest move, the biggest overpay and more. The Cubs needed to replace Justin Steele at the top of their rotation. Michael Soroka wasn't that — and now he might be injured, too. And in this week's Power Rankings, we also look backward at the deadline, defining each team's moves with one word. Also, we have a new No. 1 … For one night, Jesús Sánchez made himself the face of the Astros' trade deadline. In Boston, it's 2018 vibes — maybe not on the field yet, but the game-by-game photo wall is a nice touch. On the pods: On 'Rates and Barrels,' they're talking late-season fantasy baseball adjustments. Meanwhile, on 'The Roundtable,' the crew kinda backs me up on my Yankees assessment. Most-clicked in our last newsletter: Oneil Cruz's incredible throw to get Brenton Doyle out at third on Friday. 📫 Love The Windup? Check out The Athletic's other newsletters.
