NBA Trades
By Sofia Jaramillo-Rincon
Student Life Editor
On February 4th, 2026, the Philadelphia 76ers traded guard, Jared McCain, to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for four draft picks. A power move for OKC, the reigning championship winners.
McCain, who was drafted by the Sixers in 2024, had started to make quite the name for himself during his rookie season. However, this all came to a stop when he tore his meniscus last December. He had only played in 23 games. Nevertheless, he still finished seventh in NBA Rookie of the Year voting. He averaged 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists in 25.7 minutes per game in his debut season.
After having been out for 9 months, the 6 ‘2 guard was cleared to come back to the court, only to then face another setback. During a preseason workout, he tore a ligament in his shooting hand, further delaying his return until November. Once he finally stepped back on an NBA court, his game had drastically changed.
Due to his limited playing time, he looked to make the most of his opportunities by taking riskier shots and becoming the main ball handler. Amid this new role, he has averaged 6.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists in 16.8 minutes per game, a noticeable decrease from last season’s numbers.
Although Jared McCain’s stats have taken a toll in comparison to last year, Sam Presti, the Thunder’s GM still opted to acquire him. And it all makes sense. Presti is known for finding the diamonds in the rough and helping them flourish. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is not the same player as when he first joined the Oklahoma City Thunder. At the time, he was overlooked. Yet, he is now a League MVP (2025), Finals MVP (2025) and Championship Winner (2025). That is precisely why this trade is on brand for the Thunder. They recognize McCain’s potential : he’s a good shooter, young and inexpensive in comparison to the rest of the OKC roster. Additionally, this prospect can help mediate SGA’s absence given his skillset.
This is only the beginning for the Oklahoma City franchise. Coming off a championship, this team shows no signs of settling anytime soon. Much of their starting players are signed on contract until 2031. The Thunder are undoubtedly looking to become the next dynasty and seem to be on the right track. The addition of Jared McCain simply strengthens their already unstoppable team.