Jared McCain is one of the most electrifying acquisitions made by the OKC Thunder in years, but his thrilling presence could be gone sooner than most fans expected.
Sam Presti and the Thunder made a flurry of moves this offseason to avoid the all-consuming second apron, and McCain could become the team's next victim.
The stacked roster, especially the backcourt, makes him more likely to be a top pick in the potential expansion draft than a lifelong Thunder player.
OKC will soon have to re-sign Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell, two proven difference-makers for the team. With that in mind, and when considering the team's desperation for a forward, the quick fan favorite may be departing the franchise in the blink of an eye.
Crowded Thunder backcourt could leave Jared McCain out of favor
By the end of the 2027-28 season, Mitchell, Wallace, and McCain will all need new deals, with Wallace's contract over next season.
Wallace and Mitchell are simply irreplaceable when compared to McCain.
In his short time with the Thunder, the former Philadelphia 76er has been quite serviceable. It was a shock when Philly traded him in just his second season following injuries.
Despite his short-lived stint with the Sixers, it was quite clear that McCain brought genuine juice off the bench, shooting 8.0 threes and averaging 17.3 points per 75 possessions. His constant off-ball movement and secondary ball-handling brought a new layer to the second unit, but unfortunately, it wasn't always enough to make up for his height.
At 6-foot-2, with a 6-foot-3-and-a-half wingspan, his size was a major disadvantage in the playoffs, where he shot just 36.6 percent in the Western Conference Finals this past year. The San Antonio Spurs' massive guard rotations also left McCain at a disadvantage on defense. These limitations may be too much to justify giving him a long-term deal.
Lugeuntz Dort is now gone, and Cason Wallace is finally in position to be a full-time starter. After his 2026 playoff run, the promotion is well deserved.
He had a plus-7.5 relative true shooting percentage, shot over 48.0 percent from deep, and had the second-highest NET rating among the core rotation (minimum 300 minutes).
Ajay Mitchell was perhaps the biggest development on the team last season.
In his sophomore go-around, he was arguably the best player in a playoff series. Against the Los Angeles Lakers, he averaged 22.5 points, shot over 56 percent from the field, and had a 24.9 NET rating in the series.
His exponential growth in shot creation and on-ball responsibilities, while delivering high-quality perimeter defense, puts him close to a blank check once his current deal is done.
Getting McCain's shooting and secondary ball-handling at the deadline was momentous for the time, but now, with rookie Bennett Stirtz, his talents are simply less urgent.
The Iowa point guard averaged nearly 20 points per game, scoring from a high volume of self-created threes, and operated the pick-and-roll superbly, with Iowa scoring 1.11 points per possession with him as the pick-and-roll passer.
His shooting talents are similar to McCain's, but his 2.5-inch wingspan difference -- a 6-foot-6 wingspan -- makes a noticeable difference on the defensive end. His greater reach also opens up the entire court when he is facilitating the ball.
Stirtz is under contract until 2030, meaning OKC can wait two more years than Jared McCain to pay him his second contract.
A bench backcourt of Stirtz and Mitchell brings strong shooting, ball-handling, playmaking talent, and manageable size. Keeping McCain in a limited role and eventually paying him does less for the team than moving him to make room for an established forward.
McCain trade package gives OKC perfect opportunity for a depth forward
Although he may not fit the OKC Thunder long-term, Jared McCain is a great piece for teams all around the league.
Even before the losses of Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins, the team was thin at forward, with Jalen Williams as the only true forward left on the roster.
Capitalizing on the former Sixers' youth and offensive skill set should be a top priority for the Thunder. Forwards like Naji Marshall, Herbert Jones, and Royce O'Neale are well within his price range.
They would add solid size and extra on-ball defense while still stretching the floor. The age gap among these players also makes the possibility of picks along with the forwards very feasible.
OKC also has three first-round picks in 2027. If they feel they need a true splash move at the trade deadline or near the 2027 Draft, they can make it with a multi-team deal that will make the money work for all sides.
The players in these trades often emerge more suddenly, but non-playoff teams are typically in the mix.
Jared McCain's time with the OKC Thunder may not be long, but his mark has already been left on the team.
Add us as a preferred source on Google