The Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t going back-to-back, that’s for sure, after the San Antonio Spurs eliminated them from the playoffs in Game 7 on Sunday. Nevertheless, the Thunder could be set up well for the future with their MVP, Shail Gilgeous-Alexander, and good role players like Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell set to come back.
McCain, in particular, has been a big revelation in these playoffs, scoring 12 points in OKC’s Game 7 loss and averaging 10.0 points and 1.19 rebounds in the NBA postseason off the Thunder bench.
How Did OKC Acquire Jared McCain?
On February 5, 2026, Philadelphia sent Jared McCain to Oklahoma City in exchange for a first-round pick (22nd overall from the Houston Rockets) and three second-round picks.
The trade drew massive criticism from fans, analysts, and even players—most notably Joel Embiid, who publicly expressed resentment that the Sixers traded McCain, a promising young guard who could have helped them in the East. Even though then-president Daryl Morey tried to defend the move, the deal received backlash throughout the league.
It turns out, Embiid is right. The Sixers let go of a solid contributer, while OKC struck gold with McCain. So, one thing is for sure: the Jared McCain trade will forever sting the Sixers, especially if McCain wins a championship this year.
OKC Finds a Reliable Bench Scorer
It’s clear that McCain has thrived as a scoring guard in OKC’s secondary unit. On many other teams, the 2024 16th overall pick would be good enough to start, given his ability to explode offensively when given the green light.
Before going down with an injury in his rookie season, McCain looked like a Rookie of the Year candidate. He averaged 15.3 points per game while playing behind Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, showing poise well beyond his years.
Now, the former Duke standout is shining as a backup for the Thunder, consistently scoring in double digits when called upon. In his regular season stint with OKC, McCain averaged 10.4 points in 18 minutes and shot 39% from three. In the playoffs, he continued to deliver but elevated his game against the San Antonio Spurs. In Game 4, McCain exploded for 24 points, and in Game 5, he added 20 off the bench.
His three-point shooting and ability to step up in crucial moments make him one of OKC’s most underrated signings—putting the Thunder in a position to chase the championship next year as well.
So, OKC may have struck out this postseason. But they did strike gold with Jared McCain.
