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Jared McCain newly acquired guard by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
At the trade deadline, the Oklahoma City Thunder acquired Jared McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers. After the surprising trade, 76ers President of Basketball Operations, Daryl Morey, made a blunt comment about McCain’s trade value. It did not take long for McCain to be asked about it by the comment.
During a press conference after the trade deadline, Morey answered a reporter’s question about the McCain deal by saying, “I’m quite confident we were selling high.” The defending NBA Champions gave up their Houston Rockets’ 2026 first-round pick and three second-round picks to acquire McCain.
Jared McCain on Daryl Morey saying he’s confident the Sixers sold high on him at the trade deadline: “I didn’t get to talk to him much at all.”
McCain was asked about Morey’s blunt comment, and he didn’t really know how to respond. While nervously laughing, McCain said, “I didn’t get to talk to him much at all when he called me, but I don’t know.”
It was only last season when the 76ers and Morey drafted McCain, selecting him 16th overall. McCain was even building a strong Rookie of the Year campaign before suffering a thumb injury that required surgary forcing him to miss the rest of the season.
On top of that, McCain was not an issue in the locker room, if anything, the opposite. Kyle Lowry, a former NBA Champion, had nothing but love for McCain. In an interview with NBA on Prime, Lowery said, “Jared is like one of the most lovable guys out there.”
What Kind of Player is Jared McCain
GettyJared McCain #20 going up for a layup.
Looking at McCain’s stats for this season, you can slightly see Morey’s viewpoint. McCain is averaging 6.6 points, shooting 38.5% from the field, in 16.8 minutes over 37 games. Trading him away makes a lot of sense, especially considering the 76ers’ backcourt is full, led by Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe.
However, acquiring McCain for this value might have been a steal for the Thunder. Even though McCain only played 23 games in his rookie season, he averaged 15.3 points while shooting 38.3% from three. There was even a 10-game stretch where McCain looked amazing. He made seven starts, averaging 23.4 points, shooting 38.9% from three, on 9.5 attempts.
There aren’t many gaps on the Thunder’s roster, but where they could improve is outside shooting. The Thunder are ranked 15th in 3s attempted and made, while shooting 36% from behind the arc, ranked 14th. If McCain can tap into his rookie season for the Thunder, this will be a great trade for them, making the defending champions even better.
Despite McCain’s poor shooting percentage from the field this season, he has stayed reliable from three. He is shooting 37.8% from three, but on 3.2 attempts. Because of that, it’s not hard to see how McCain can make an impact on this team.
Can McCain Find a Role on the Thunder Right Away?
GettyJared McCain #20 attempting a shot.
Joining a new team in the middle of the season is always difficult, so it’s hard to expect anything from McCain right away. Furthermore, the Thunder are not going to throw McCain into the deep end right away. The Thunder’s depth will allow them to bring him into the rotation slowly, which is important to help McCain get out of his slump.
However, McCain has an opportunity to make an immediate impact. Last season’s MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, will miss time with an abdominal strain. This is while the Thunder have already been playing without Jalen Williams, who is dealing with a hamstring injury.
Even with all the injury news, the Thunder are still the favorites to repeat, and have a league-best record of 40-12. Still, the injuries provide an early opportunity for McCain to prove himself to his new team.
Jose Rohdin Jose Rohdin covers the NBA for Heavy. He has been covering the world of sports since 2018, focusing on the NBA, NFL, MLB, Soccer, College Basketball, and College Football. More about Jose Rohdin
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