McCain was selected 16th overall by Philadelphia in the 2024 draft and showed extraordinary promise last year. He led all rookies in scoring and three-point ability (15.3 points per game, 2.2 threes made on 38.3% shooting from deep) before a torn left meniscus cut his debut season short. His second season was a different story. McCain has struggled mightily in his return from that knee injury, which was exacerbated by an offseason UCL tear in his right thumb (McCain is ambidextrous, but shoots with his right hand). He scored 6.6 points per game while shooting just 38.5% from the floor in 2025-26. He received multiple G League assignments and struggled to earn playing time for the Sixers.
Oklahoma City’s shooting — especially at the perimeter — has been average and often unreliable, and McCain has a chance to make his mark right away: the Thunder announced today that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was dealing with an abdominal strain that will sideline him until after the All-Star break, and Ajay Mitchell also remains out with an injured abdomen.
The podcast crew reacts to the deadline deals. How did Presti achieve this?
But with just 60 injury-riddled games played before his 22nd birthday, and a shaky defensive profile at best, it’s better to view McCain as a long-term project rather than a playoff contributor. With recent trades supposedly improving the Jazz (who owe a top-8 protected pick to OKC) and hurting the Clippers (who owe a pick swap to OKC), the Thunder were faced with the prospect of adding three first-round projects in the 2026 draft. Thunder VP & GM Sam Presti has opted to give up one of those picks and grab a young player early. At worst, Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber and McCain form a mini-farm system with a good reputation and promising young (and affordable) talent for the Thunder championships.
The age in OKC
Thomas Sorber (20)
Nikola topic (20)
Jared McCain (21)
Casson Wallace (22)
Chet Holmgren (23)
Ajay Mitchell (23)
Jaylin Williams (23)
Jaleen Williams (24)
Lu Dort (26)
Isaiah Joe (26)
Aaron Wiggins (27)
SGA (27)
Isaiah Hartenstein (27)
Alex Caruso (31)
Kenrich…— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 4, 2026
Plumlee has been waived, and nothing else has been reported as inbound to OKC from Charlotte or Chicago. When the dust settles, the Thunder will have replaced Dieng with McCain, leaving the roster full. One of the second-round picks Presti dealt to Philly was attached to a rights trade with Dallas in the 2028 draft. Whether Philly will get the better end of that trade has yet to be revealed, but I assume it will.
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