Mike O'Connor

Sixers writer for @RTRSpodcast. Formerly @TheAthletic

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

I am so happy for everyone who has spent the last decade+ pouring time and energy into this team. I love you guys

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

New piece for @RTRSPodcast with some big picture thoughts on PG and Embiid as they return to the lineup, plus a very necessary reflection on Markelle Fultz now that he's back in the NBA: https://t.co/iezcrvxzY0

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

This is all gonna be so worth it when the Sixers win the title in 40 years.

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

@AarickUrban thank you!

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

Sam Hinkie in his resignation letter 10 years ago:

"Many [teams] find themselves caught in the zugzwang, the point in the game where all possible moves make you worse off"

On the Sixers' long term outlook and whether we are now in the zugzwang:
https://t.co/kLXmORcxmZ

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

The thing about the McCain trade is that the thought process was a disaster on every level — player eval, timing, negotiation, long term cap/money management, reading how it might affect the locker room. Not to mention the coaching side of it, who very obviously limited and misused this guy, and who was hired and backed by this front office. Like if you just had competent decision making on any of those fronts, this trade doesn’t happen.

The decision to trade McCain now, the way they went about it, and the return they got really highlights the areas of top to bottom organizational brainrot. Just an all-time fuck up, I will never get over it, and I will bet anything that it continues to look worse and worse over time.

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

Sixers net rating with

Maxey on, Embiid + PG off: +0.3
All 3 off: -18.7

I wrote about Tyrese Maxey as a floor raiser and why the team doesn’t perform better in games without their two veteran stars

(@RTRSPodcast)

https://t.co/pvszS6MR28

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

🙃

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

What an insane win. Hell of a play by VJ. Regardless, the McCain thing still drives me nuts!

Exactly 1 year ago, McCain wrapped up a 13 game, month long stretch in which he averaged 21.7 PPG on 60% TS. Rookies do not do that!

And it's like the whole organization doesn't care that it happened. They act like he's just some half decent young player. He's yet to play 30 minutes in a game this year and they run no offense for him.

If I were one of the 29 other GMs I'd be hitting their line nonstop trying to low ball them for him. They might just be dumb enough to accept

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

New piece for @RTRSPodcast with extended thoughts on the McCain trade / trade deadline, plus third quarter woes and the outlook for the rest of the season https://t.co/obJLkQIWBR

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

How do you look at what Maxey and Embiid have done this year and go into the trade deadline deciding to get worse and cut costs. Pathetic.

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

“Clear space in the glut of guards” brother they are 1 injury away from Kyle Lowry having to play 20 minutes a game!

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

The talented McCain lands on the reigning NBA champions. For the 76ers, the trade allows them to receive assets, clear space in the glut of guards and give them flexibility to bring Quentin Grimes back in free agency. It also allows them to convert two-way Dominick Barlow.

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

Hate it. Absolutely hate it.

I would guess that this is setting up another move, though. If part of the calculus here was ducking the tax, that’s outrageous

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

BREAKING: The Philadelphia 76ers are trading guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2026 Rockets first-round pick and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

@basedsenorito Would definitely be nice to just have a Jared Butler type addition as insurance but I do think they could get away with just playing VJ as de facto backup PG as long as they have Watford on the floor in those lineups to provide additional ball handling

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

New piece for @RTRSPodcast: Trade Deadline mega-preview with four types of trades the Sixers could make, plus extended thoughts on potentially including VJ in a Giannis deal https://t.co/BWynUyLPbI

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

Good one from @BucketSanderson

Beckett is our newest writer over at @RTRSPodcast, do yourself a favor and give him a follow

https://t.co/2Wx1D7KI38

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

New piece for @RTRSPodcast:

- How good, exactly, is Joel Embiid right now?
- How the Embiid-Maxey two-man game has improved as the season has gone on
- Biggest area where the team must improve with Embiid on the floor

https://t.co/WFsklEwODv

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

Embiid this year vs. prime Boogie Cousins

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

Honestly did not think we would get to see Embiid hoop at this level ever again. He is back to just effortlessly dominating good teams and he keeps getting better as the season goes on. One of the best stories in the NBA right now.

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

@Harrison_Grimm Yeah or at least vary the play calls if you’re not going to call timeout. They have got to have more options down the stretch than just the Maxey-VJ pick and roll. Everybody knows it’s coming now

[Mike O'Connor @MOConnor_NBA]

The basketball gods are just. Denver played like it was the NBA Finals and the Sixers played dumb, lazy ball all night. They deserved to lose. VJ was the only guy who matched their energy.

Also: Nick Nurse playing Adem Bona over PG deep into the fourth quarter while the Sixers got clamped by a zone is one of the worst coaching decisions I have ever seen. That loss is on the head coach as much as anyone.