The Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed to a deal that sends guard Jared McCain to OKC in exchange for Houston’s 2026 first-round pick-currently held by the Thunder-along with three second-rounders. The move gives the Sixers future draft capital and some financial breathing room, while the Thunder continue to leverage their stockpile of assets in pursuit of upside talent.
Here’s the full breakdown: Philadelphia receives Houston’s 2026 first, plus a trio of second-round picks-one in 2027 (the most favorable of picks from the Thunder, Rockets, Pacers, and Heat), OKC’s own 2028 second, and Milwaukee’s 2028 second. That’s a solid return for a young player who’s still finding his footing after a promising but injury-shortened start to his NBA career.
McCain, who turns 22 later this month, was selected 16th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft out of Duke. And early on, he looked like a steal.
In 23 games as a rookie, McCain averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds while shooting an efficient .460 from the field, .383 from deep, and .875 at the line. He was playing nearly 26 minutes a night and showing real promise as a scoring guard-until a knee injury ended his season prematurely.
Unfortunately, the injury bug didn’t stop there. McCain’s sophomore campaign got off to a rocky start after he suffered ligament damage in his thumb during an offseason workout, just before training camp. That setback required surgery and delayed his return to the court.
Since coming back, McCain has struggled to regain the rhythm that made him such a bright spot as a rookie. Through 37 games this season, he’s averaging 6.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in just under 17 minutes per game.
The shooting splits-.385 from the field, .378 from three, and .880 from the line-are still respectable, but the overall impact hasn’t quite matched his early promise. He’s spent time in the G League this season, trying to find his groove and rebuild confidence.
From Philly’s perspective, this move clears some space in a crowded backcourt. With All-Star Tyrese Maxey continuing to ascend and rookie VJ Edgecombe making a strong impression, McCain had become something of a luxury piece-especially considering all three guards are undersized, which makes it tough to play them together for extended stretches.
By moving McCain, the Sixers also create a traded player exception worth just over $4.2 million, equivalent to his current salary. That could come in handy as they look to maintain flexibility heading into the offseason.
There’s also a financial angle here. With Paul George serving a 25-game suspension this season, the Sixers will receive a tax variance credit, and moving McCain puts them in a better position to finish the year as a non-taxpayer-something that could influence how they operate at the trade deadline and beyond.
As for the Thunder, this is a classic OKC move: take a swing on a young, talented player whose value has dipped, but who still has upside. McCain is under contract for two more seasons beyond this one, with $11.2 million left on his rookie scale deal.
That’s a low-risk, potentially high-reward bet for a team that already has a deep roster and more draft picks than it knows what to do with. If McCain can stay healthy and rediscover the form he showed early in his rookie year, he could be a sneaky-good addition to a rotation that’s already stacked with young talent.
There may be more moving parts here, too. Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng is reportedly being discussed in a separate deal that would send him to the Charlotte Hornets for veteran big man Mason Plumlee.
That trade would help Oklahoma City shed Dieng’s salary without waiving him, keeping them below the luxury tax threshold. For a team that’s carefully managing its cap sheet while still building toward contention, that’s a smart bit of maneuvering.
Bottom line: the Sixers get value for a player who no longer fit their rotation, plus some financial relief. The Thunder add a former first-round pick with room to grow, and they do it without touching their core or compromising future flexibility. It’s the kind of move that could pay off quietly now-and loudly later.