Jared McCain is headed to Oklahoma City.
The promising guard was dealt by the 76ers to the defending champion Thunder on Wednesday in exchange for the Rockets’ 2026 first-round pick and three second-round picks, according to ESPN.
The move adds yet another young asset to OKC’s embarrassment of riches across their roster.
However, it comes as reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is dealing with an ab strain that will sideline him the next couple of weeks. Gilgeous-Alexander will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break.
McCain, who turns 22 this month, burst onto the scene for Philadelphia last season after being selected No. 16 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.
In the first two months of his debut season, McCain averaged 15.3 points on 46 percent shooting overall and 38.3 percent from three in 25 minutes per game and looked poised to compete for the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
But in mid-December, he went down with a meniscus tear in his left knee, which took him out for the rest of the season.
After missing the first couple of weeks of this season following surgery to repair a tear in the UCL of his right thumb, McCain hasn’t quite looked the same.
In 37 games, McCain’s numbers have taken a step back across the board, averaging 6.6 points per game on just 38.5 percent shooting.
He has lost playing time with the superstar leap of Tyrese Maxey, the emergence of rookie VJ Edgecombe and sixth man Quentin Grimes at the guard spot.
The Duke product will likely compete for minutes with fellow guards Alex Caruso, Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell, among others.
The Thunder currently have the best record in the NBA at 40-11.
