The Sixers and Thunder have agreed to a trade that will send Jared McCain to Oklahoma City for Houston’s 2026 first-round pick (which the Thunder control) and three second-rounders, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
The three second-round picks involved in the trade are a 2027 selection (most favorable of Thunder, Rockets, Pacers and Heat), OKC’s own 2028 pick, and Milwaukee’s 2028 second, reports Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (via Twitter).
McCain, who turns 22 years old later this month, was the 16th overall pick in the 2024 draft. The former Duke guard got off to an excellent start to his rookie campaign, averaging 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds on .460/.383/.875 shooting in 23 games (25.7 minutes per contest), but missed the remainder of 2024/25 after undergoing season-ending knee surgery.
McCain’s ’25/26 debut was delayed after he suffered ligament damage in his thumb, which required surgery. The injury occurred in an offseason workout just before training camp.
Although McCain has played a bit better recently, he largely hasn’t played at the same level as he did as a rookie, averaging 6.6 PPG, 2.0 RPG and 1.7 APG on .385/.378/.880 shooting in 37 games (16.8 MPG). He was sent to the G League multiple times to get more playing time and to try and find his rhythm.
Assuming Philadelphia doesn’t receive a player back in return, the team would generate a traded player exception worth $4,221,360, which is how much money McCain makes this season.
The Sixers likely viewed McCain as a luxury rather than a necessity due to the strong backcourt play of All-Star Tyrese Maxey and standout rookie VJ Edgecombe. It’s worth noting that all three players are on the smaller side as well, so it would be difficult to play them all at once.
The Thunder, meanwhile, have an excess of future first-round picks and will be betting that McCain can recapture his previous form in a new environment. His rookie scale contract covers two more years beyond ’25/26 for a total of $11.2MM.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line hears Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng may be involved in the deal as well (Twitter link). According to Fischer (Twitter link), there’s momentum on a trade that would send Dieng to the Hornets for Mason Plumlee. Shedding Dieng’s salary rather than waiving him would help the Thunder stay below the luxury tax threshold.
Avoiding the tax is also presumably a consideration for the Sixers, who will receive a tax variance credit as a result of Paul George’s 25-game suspension and are in position to finish the season as a non-taxpayer after moving McCain.
WHY
LMAO
I guess at this point, with Edgecombe’s emergence, Philly’s backcourt is set for the future, so McCain tops out as a 6th man? Maybe get a first for him now and roll the dice on drafting a better fitting long term piece?
(Or maybe stock piling picks for something big)
LOL
To me this only makes sense if it’s a setup trade for something more. They gain a FRP for something else.
Glut of guards, get under the second tier and/or set up for another trade.
Or it is just for avoiding the luxury tax…
With Dieng going to a third team when it gets folded into a second trade…
Good move have to get off some picks and Houston would be back of draft. Team still needs to see Topic and Sorbert before adding more back end talent.
Surprised they could do this without using Dieng.
Haha wtf is Philly doing
Collecting picks for something bigger???
Gives the Sixers a plethora of draft picks to trade now. I believe this will give them a 1st in every draft through 2023
2032
Wow, the Sixers gave up on McCain just like that. Nice collection of assets they’re getting, at least in terms of quantity.
I’m this case, quantity definitely doesn’t equal quality.
Quality of those picks is decent too – Houston without FVV and Addams is struggling, so the 1st rounder could end up in the low 20s. The 2027 second round super pick will be a mid40s ish pick and the 2028 Milwaukee 2nd rounder could be as high as 31.
76ers don’t even get one of the other picks from Clippers (currently 12th) and 18 from 76ers themselves.
Talk about really selling low on a guy. Sheesh.
Thunder win this trade. They are for sure hoping they can get McCain to play like he did in his rookie season for Philly. The Rockets’ 2026 FRP is going to be in the 18-25ish range so good value for OKC. 76ers now have some extra assets in another trade.
P3D0 Josh Harris L
OKC trying to make a TikTok team
the other day Joel Embiid says “I really hope they don’t try to avoid tax, I think we can compete”…. a few days later….. lol. Way to show the entire NBA you don’t care about anything but $$$ Philly
lol, he is averaging 6.5 points per game. relax.
yeah, he he been lapped by the field in Philly. No need for him anymore. Get some assets for a guy who cant get on the floor. OKC already has SGA, Alex, Dort, Ajay, Cason….so yeah….enjoy the bench on a different team.
He will get some run. OKC has gone 1 big and 4 guard/wings, but yeah it will be tough you didn’t even include Joe and Wiggins. This maybe more of a future move if Wallace gets big offer or Dort wants to leave.
SGA is going to be out for a bit. Caruso just came back but has had injuries so did all the other guards.
1st rd pick for McCain all day
Philly doing something right
SGA has ab injury and out until AS game so that makes sense for OKC trade.
OKC now has multiple elite catch and shoot guys…
Would have been perfect for the warriors what they need a young player.
The emergence of Edgecombe really crushed his value to Philly, getting back some picks now is a smart move.
Man I hate Morey
Jalen Williams insurance.
Good move for the Thunder instead of potentially drafting a bust you get a guy you know can play well.
I’m sure they plan on trading away Ajay instead of paying him and in which case they likely get back 2 firsts and stay under the luxury tax
As for the Sixers it sucks cause he was so good as a rookie. Thought he would be the sixth man next season after we let Grimes leave in FA. Maybe we plan on keeping Grimes around. What would make me a lot happier is if we used this pick plus one of our own and then shipped off PG for a guy like KAT or AD or something like that. Upgrade at PF and give up 2 firsts, 1 we just got from McCain.
Maxey VJ Grimes and Oubre give us enough firepower on the perimeter but we could do with better interior defence and rebounding and that PF spot is our weakest area
They already paid Ajay, ripped up rookie deal and gave extension prior to season which is what they did with Wiggins, Joe, and I think Jaylin. Wallace is the one they may not be able to pay.
Now with the AD news and this pick and others, flip them and Gordon and Drummond maybe for Kyshawn George!
And do it quickly
I personally wouldnt get rid of Dieng, if I’m OKC, unless it was part of a larger package for something legit, althpugh Plumlee is useful depth for them theoretically. Dieng is great depth for them at multiple positions, and just needs more opportunity, which could end up looking bad if he does get that chance elsewhere. Especially with some questions about certain guys availability, I would be wary of moving him
Plumlee would be going to Philly. OK gets McCain for Dieng and 76ers flip him for Plumlee. OKC had a full 15 already not taking 2 guys for 1 in a trade.
I for some reason misread this as 2 separate things lol, and your clarification makes more sense, althpugh I would imagine 1 of the reasons Philly is making the deal is to get under the luxury tax, so maybe it is 2 separate deals. I thought OKC was absorbing McCain into space, Philly was creating an exception, and then also OKC was potentially moving Dieng to Charlotte for Plumlee
What a brilliant way (if McCain is actually as impactful as appeared last year) for OKC to spend their draft capital. They will be faced with so many tough decisions, beginning with Dort, as the cap implications of their roster construction materialize.
They spend their draft capital on younger players who have exhibited a capacity to play in the NBA, on a cost-controlled basis. The younger players that will available to them are ones with no clear path to playing time.
For Philly’s end, they likely wouldn’t be able to return this much value again on McCain with three guards ahead of him on the depth chart. Philly can cobble together assets for found luxury like they achieved by landing McCain.
Gotta be a setup move for Philly for another move. Maybe Eason or Bey?
Feels like a good move for both teams. OKC gets a good young guard who still has upside, whereas Philly still gets value for a guy who got leapfrogged by Edgecome and was struggling to get minutes.
garbage move by the sixers just to get under the tax. If they wanted to dump salary why not deal Grimes. Morey is a horrible gm. The picks have no value. It’s hard to keep following this team with the way Morey runs it. Horrible idea to extend Embid, horrible idea to sign Paul George and now you give up a young player that was a good rotation piece for nothing. There better be a follow up move that makes this trademake more sense.
Not a fan of this move.