Given the lack of scoring the Sixers displayed last year, when word got out that Sixers 2014 2nd round draft pick Jordan McRae was lighting up the Australian NBL to the tune of almost 20 points a game, reasonable Sixers fans wondered if it was time to bring him into the fold and get him on the court for the Sixers.
McRae did eventually come back stateside and play 13 games for the Sevens, averaging 18.4 points per game for the D-league outfit, but he never suited up for the mothership. Then came the Vegas Summer League, where McRae, after declaring he could play some PG for the Sixers, forced his shot on every touch and looked completely out of step with the style of ball Brett Brown is trying to implement. Despite his poor showing, it sounded as though he was getting one of the coveted 20 slots on the Sixers off-season roster and would compete to be on the team in training camp.
Now comes word from Philadunkia's Michael Kaskey-Blomain that this may not be the case:
Something could change between now & then, but I'm told that the #Sixers don't expect Jordan McRae to be w/ the team at training camp.
— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) September 15, 2015
The Sixers offered McRae a required tender (a one-year contract that ensures they retain his rights), but McRae can simply turn down signing the tender to go play overseas if he so chooses (such as he did last year). Sounds like perhaps McRae has a better offer on the table from somewhere else.
As Michael KB points out, the Sixers are probably fine with this. With a loaded roster as is, and McRae's poor showing in Summer League, another year of development overseas while retaining his rights is exactly the type of "optionality" Lord Hinkie gets down with. This also lets the Sixers potentially bring in one more fresh face for training camp to see if they can find another hidden gem.
