The Oklahoma City Thunder, already leading the NBA, have bolstered their team before the trade deadline.
On Wednesday, they traded for guard Jared McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers. In return, Philly will receive a 2026 first-round pick and three second-round picks. The first-round pick originally belonged to Houston.
Last season, McCain was a contender for Rookie of the Year, averaging 15.3 points with a shooting accuracy of 46 percent. He ranked seventh in the Rookie of the Year voting, which is notable since he only played 23 games due to injuries.
This season, McCain has played in 37 games but made just one start for Philadelphia. He struggled to find time on the court due to a packed Sixers backcourt. Moving to OKC, he may have a better chance to play more, despite the Thunder also having many guards.
After a slow start to the season, McCain improved his shooting, hitting 45 percent from the field in January and 48.6 percent from three-point range. Many believe the Sixers are letting go of the 2024 No. 16 overall draft pick too soon.