The 2026-27 season will be a sort of testing ground for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
They moved off of Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe in separate trade this offseason, and they'll expect Ajay Mitchell, Cason Wallace, Jared McCain, and even Bennet Stirtz (to some degree) to help replace the production of those pieces. The regular season will be a chance for them to test different combinations and lineups as they re-shape their core around their young pieces.
But for a team with championship aspirations like Oklahoma City has, the true test of any player or rotational combination comes in the playoffs. As the Thunder weigh their options with Jared McCain, who is entering his third NBA season, it won't be his regular season performance that truly matters— it will be his viability once he reaches the playoffs.
McCain is the type of player the Thunder need on the offensive end. He's a more-than-capable perimeter shooter and can serve as an outlet for the offense either as a starter or off the bench. But as we saw in last year's playoffs, the ability to handle physicality is what separates players when the season comes down to its toughest moments.
Oklahoma City certainly needs McCain to produce from beyond the arc this season. But even beyond that, they need him to prove he can face off against the toughest opponents before they can confidently grant him an extension.
Jared McCain has only one thing left to prove for the Thunder in 2026-27— and it won't come until the playoffs get rolling
McCain was one of the most inspiring storylines of Oklahoma City's 2025-26 campaign. Before his acquisition at the trade deadline, he had almost entirely fallen out of the rotation with the Philadelphia 76ers. But Sam Presti took a swing anyways, sending off a first-round pick and a trio of second-round selections in exchange for the young guard.
McCain almost immediately justified the move. Across 30 regular season games with the Thunder, he averaged 10.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.9 assists while shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc. When both Joe and Wiggins went cold in the playoffs, he re-entered the rotation, providing the extra dose of perimeter scoring Oklahoma City desperately needed.
He also took rapid strides on the defensive end upon his arrival to the organization, blending into the Thunder's swarming scheme relatively quickly and displaying an intensity on that end of the court that was largely absent during his days in Philadelphia.
But McCain isn't the biggest or strongest guard. If he's going to be a long-term piece for the Thunder, he's going to need to prove he can truly match up against the Stephon Castles and Dylan Harpers of the world. It's a lesson the league as a whole has taken away from the San Antonio Spurs' run to the NBA Finals.
If a player can't handle the physicality of these teams, they won't have a true place in a championship-caliber playoff rotation.
McCain was highly effective against San Antonio. Across the seven games of that series, he averaged 13.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, but his 3-point shooting saw a precipitous drop to just 28.3%. Even if his perimeter shooting had held steady, though, the argument still rings true.
McCain can hit as many 3-point shots as he wants in 2026-27. But at the end of the day, he's going to need to continue to develop as a defender and a physical on-court presence if he wants to stick with Oklahoma City long-term.
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