76ers already predicted to part ways with young guard via trade to Wolves

The Philadelphia 76ers' active offseason made clear their intentions: go all in for a championship with Joel Embiid at the helm.

But why then did the Sixers decide to draft 20-year-old Duke Blue Devil Jared McCain over the experienced 23-year-old Dalton Knecht ?

Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes believes Philadelphia could have drafted the youthful guard to use in a trade later this season. Hughes proposed the Minnesota Timberwolves as the ideal landing spot, sending back defensive-minded guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker in return.

"Every trade target is going to seem odd for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who just swung the biggest deal of the offseason by sending Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo and a first-round pick," Hughes wrote.

Minnesota's goal by moving off of Towns was to lengthen their championship window with superstar Anthony Edwards running the show. By acquiring the 20-year-old on a rookie salary, this trade undoubtedly contributes to that mission.

"Maybe the long-term approach that motivated the offseason trade for Rob Dillingham could persist in a swap for Sixers rookie Jared McCain. Nickeil Alexander-Walker's expiring $4.6 million is a close match for McCain's rookie-scale deal, and the Duke product would come with the added bonus of four years of cheap team control," Hughes concluded.

It's hard to picture team president Tim Connelly and the Wolves' front office going silent for the year, with growing even younger remaining within the realm of possibilities.

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