OKC Thunder guard Jared McCain
Jared McCain continues to thrive since the Sixers traded him to OKC.
Young guard Jared McCain shared some details behind the Philadelphia 76ers and head coach Nick Nurse failing to use him effectively. NBA fans were shocked when the 76ers traded McCain during his second season to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a late first-round draft pick. McCain has already fit into the Thunder system and is helping the dominant NBA Title favorites improve their depth.
The following quote from McCain before Oklahoma City shootaround saw him referencing what Philadelphia didn’t do:
“It’s crazy. When I was in Philly, Joel would do that with Tyrese, and I was like, ‘Dang, that’s really cool right there.’ So being able to be a part of it is really fun. Playing with Hart, J-Will, and Chet, they’re all elite bigs. I’m excited to play with them.”
McCain referenced how he didn’t get be part of a valued part of the 76ers offense with Joel Embiid since Tyrese Maxey received all the pick and roll plays there. The Thunder already has allowed him to benefit from playing with taller players like Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein. McCain revealed that getting to run plays with respected centers or power forwards is leading to more success.
NBA Fans Are Mocking The 76ers
Every NBA team is looking to find talented young players to both improve their future with the talent and to benefit from having the smaller rookie contracts help the team. McCain was in Rookie of the Year conversations last season before injuries ruled him out, and he remains under a modest contract going into 2029.
Oklahoma City is developing yet another young talent and will have the rights to McCain until he’s 24. The 76ers are witnessing their season fall apart yet again due to injuries to Embiid and Maxey. General Manager Daryl Morey traded a young asset for no reason other than giving up on him.
Controversial comments from Morey saw him even claiming he think they “sold high” on McCain. Few executives say something so disrespectful about a player they traded, and it looks even worse since McCain is thriving. Morey and Philadelphia head coach Nick Nurse are both under fire for misusing McCain and trading him for a weaker pick.
Oklahoma City Keeps Swindling Other Teams
Opposing NBA teams can’t be happy about Oklahoma City lucking into getting another young player via giving up a pick they didn’t even value. The Thunder are the strong favorites to repeat with a “big three” of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Holmgren all still young.
McCain provides another young talent who can both help now as one of the last players in the rotation and take a bigger role in future seasons. Oklahoma City will be unable to keep all their current rotation players once their contracts expire.
The shrewd move allows the Thunder to keep developing young players for their bench and to have chances at contending for many more seasons. Philadelphia lost a potential building block to have another failed season and will get ridiculed more if McCain keeps thriving in OKC.