Sources close to the NBA's latest trade shakeup have revealed that the Philadelphia 76ers are trading young guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for a significant draft haul. The deal includes the Houston Rockets' 2026 first-round pick, as well as three second-round picks from the same team and other clubs including the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat.
For a player who burst onto the scene last season with impressive scoring prowess before suffering an injury that cut short his rookie campaign, McCain's departure comes at a cost. Despite showing signs of improvement recently, his role on the 76ers has been diminished by the emergence of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe as key backcourt players.
The Sixers' decision to trade McCain for draft picks is seen as a strategic move to bolster their roster without exceeding the luxury tax threshold. By acquiring the Houston first-rounder, Philadelphia gains entry into the 2026 NBA Draft, positioning itself to make a significant pick at No. 26 overall if the season were to conclude on Wednesday.
This trade adds to the Sixers' collection of draft picks, increasing their total to 13 second-round selections across the next seven drafts. The move also gives Philadelphia some flexibility to add salary without crossing into luxury tax territory, setting the stage for potential future roster upgrades.
For a player who burst onto the scene last season with impressive scoring prowess before suffering an injury that cut short his rookie campaign, McCain's departure comes at a cost. Despite showing signs of improvement recently, his role on the 76ers has been diminished by the emergence of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe as key backcourt players.
The Sixers' decision to trade McCain for draft picks is seen as a strategic move to bolster their roster without exceeding the luxury tax threshold. By acquiring the Houston first-rounder, Philadelphia gains entry into the 2026 NBA Draft, positioning itself to make a significant pick at No. 26 overall if the season were to conclude on Wednesday.
This trade adds to the Sixers' collection of draft picks, increasing their total to 13 second-round selections across the next seven drafts. The move also gives Philadelphia some flexibility to add salary without crossing into luxury tax territory, setting the stage for potential future roster upgrades.
so they're trading mccain for like a bunch of draft picks... that's gonna help them get someone really good in 2026 
and it's not like they're giving up too much right now since his role has been kinda limited on the team 
also, the 76ers are just being smart about it by not breaking the bank before the next season starts 
i dont get why philly would wanna give up on him now, especially when they could've just played him more and worked on his game some more 
maybe they're thinkin ahead tho, gettin all these draft picks could be huge in a few years 
. Still, trading away draft picks is usually a risk, especially since you never know if those kids will pan out or flop 
. The Sixers are trying to get under the luxury tax threshold, which makes sense I guess, but it feels like they're playing catch-up with this trade 
. They gotta be hoping that one of those second-round picks lands them a gem in the 2026 draft... fingers crossed 
!
I mean, what's next? Anyway, back to basketball... I don't get why teams trade away their young talent if they're already good. Like, the Sixers were doing fine without Jared McCain, right? But I guess you gotta think about the future and all that jazz 
. Have you guys been watching the NBA playoffs? The Rockets' 2026 first-round pick is a big deal, but what's the point of having it if they're not gonna use it to build around James Harden's legacy or whatever 
. And now they're trading him for draft picks? I get the luxury tax thing, but it feels like they're being a bit shrewd... or maybe just not giving him a chance to prove himself more 
. He was promising last season before getting hurt and now he's being sent to Oklahoma City. The Sixers want to build their roster without breaking the bank 
I just saw this news and I'm like totally shook! Jared McCain was one of my faves on the 76ers last season 
and now he's just gone? I get it tho, they gotta make room for other players to shine, but it hurts to see him go 
. The trade deal sounds sweet tho, getting that 2026 first-rounder is like a golden ticket to the NBA draft 
! Can't wait to see what kind of player they pick with that pick 
! Jared McCain was lookin so good last season and now he's gettin traded away like he didn't even matter anymore 
. Maybe they're trying to make room for someone new? 
I do think trading draft picks is a smart move, though 
. The Sixers are basically giving themselves some future leverage 
. And with that first-round pick from Houston, they could definitely make some noise in the 2026 draft 
. Trading him for draft picks is a smart move, but at what cost? The 76ers are gonna have to wait another year to make their pick 
. Meanwhile, the Thunder get a new guard to shake things up 
. And who knows, maybe this deal will pay off and they'll land that top pick 
Like, I know Jared McCain had a breakout season last year but I think he's being benched for Tyrese and VJ Edgecombe for a reason! 
. Can't wait to see how this all plays out!
but still, it's gonna hurt their depth at guard. On the other hand, the Sixers are making smart moves as always 
they're building a strong foundation and staying under the luxury tax cap, which is a big deal for them. But I do wish they'd hold onto McCain for a bit longer to see how he develops... maybe next season? 
. They're getting some great draft picks and that first-round pick from Houston could be game-changing at No. 26! 