Feb. 6, 2026, 3:10 p.m. CT
Sitting atop the NBA standings all season, the Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t sleep on the throne. They went with the proactive move to add a buy-low candidate at the trade deadline.
The Thunder acquired Jared McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers for Houston’s 2026 first-round pick and three second-round picks. The 21-year-old has been buried in the rotation as he’s struggled with injuries. He had his rookie season cut short last year with a torn meniscus and had thumb surgery at this year’s training camp.
While the move was made for the long-term future of another complementary ball-handler and shooter, the Thunder could enjoy some immediate fruits. Considering Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence and a few more injuries, they’d welcome another scorer as soon as their next game.
McCain joined OKC’s Friday practice. It was the first time he’s publicly talked since the Sixers dealt him. The 21-year-old unveiled some details of the trade deadline mayhem. As most know, it’s one of the NBA’s busiest days where deals are struck at lightning speed.
Which is why it isn’t all that shocking to hear McCain said he was blindsided by the deal. He said he received the news as the Sixers were on their way to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the middle of their three-game West Coast trip earlier this week.
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“No. Not at all. We were on the bus to the airport and just got a call. I had no feeling. I didn’t think it was gonna happen to be honest,” McCain said. “I got the call and went to Tyrese first. It was pretty emotional.”
As you could predict, emotions were pretty high around the Sixers. Tyrese Maxey has grown a relationship with McCain. This time last year, it felt like they were Philadelphia’s future starting backcourt. Wth VJ Edgecombe’s surprising arrival this past draft, things obviously changed. Shows you how fast moving of a business the NBA can be.
Justifying McCain’s deal, Sixers president Daryl Morey said he thought they sold high on his value. After Joel Embiid pleaded with management to add talent to a squad that’s recently gained rhythm, the front office went the opposite direction, shedding salary to avoid the luxury tax.
“I didn’t get to talk to him much at all,” McCain said about Morey’s comments. “When he called me, yeah I don’t know.”
We’ll see if the Sixers’ cost-cutting move comes back to bite them. For the Thunder, this was an obvious move to make. You get two-plus seasons of team control on a borderline draft pick from not even two full years ago. McCain could change the dynamics of the roster now and for the foreseeable future.