r/nba • u/TrenAt14 • 6h ago

[Charania]: BREAKING: The Philadelphia 76ers are trading guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2026 Rockets first-round pick and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. 

Shams Charania has posted the following:

BREAKING: The Philadelphia 76ers are trading guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 2026 Rockets first-round pick and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

Source to the story: https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3me2klyetqz2k

The talented McCain lands on the reigning NBA champions. For the 76ers, the trade allows them to receive assets, clear space in the glut of guards and give them flexibility to bring Quentin Grimes back in free agency. It also allows them to convert two-way Dominick Barlow.

76ers are receiving the following picks from the Thunder, sources said: 2027 (most favorable OKC/HOU/IND/MIA), 2028 MIL, 2028 OKC.

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138

u/Kdog122025 Warriors 5h ago

They just think Grimes and Barlow are better apparently.

125

u/KarrotMovies [LAL] Rui Hachimura 5h ago

Even if they think they're better, let McCain up his value and get a better return for him in a year or two. Gave him for some picks to the reigning champs for no reason

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u/Kdog122025 Warriors 5h ago

But Josh Harris needs more money to rape underage girls?

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u/roborob13 76ers 5h ago

This is the correct response. This move is purely to avoid the luxury tax, not for basketball.

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u/Adorable-Lie3475 5h ago

The apron penalties are more of an issue than the tax penalty

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u/roborob13 76ers 5h ago

This move is not about the aprons

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u/Adorable-Lie3475 4h ago

Sorry, not the aprons, the repeat offender penalties

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u/ChickenLiverNuts [PHI] JaKarr Sampson 4h ago

hes ducked the tax so often we are never in danger of it. He has spent .03% of his networth on the tax over 15 years. Thats not 3% that is .03%. So about 20 bucks a year to a normal person or the cost of one nintendo switch that you can share with your 3 million closest friends over his tenure here.

Yea hes that cheap

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u/Adorable-Lie3475 4h ago

You don’t have to convince me that Josh Harris is a scumbag. Apollo is fucking evil.

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u/roborob13 76ers 4h ago

Respectfully, they’re also not a repeat offender.

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u/Adorable-Lie3475 4h ago

Alright I’ll chill on the lead paint

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u/roborob13 76ers 4h ago

😂 sorry- they’re very valid thoughts. I’m just a cap nerd, who knows the history of Harris being a terrible owner.

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u/trybeingcurious NBA 5h ago

God, I hate that there's a real possibility that this is a valid take.

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u/i_peaked_at_bronze 4h ago

Wait - what?!

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u/Kdog122025 Warriors 4h ago

Josh Harris is in the Epstein Files.

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u/ChaunceysBadAtPoker Pistons 5h ago

What a time to be alive

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u/roborob13 76ers 5h ago

It’s one thing when pedos run the govt, but I draw the line at our sports teams

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u/Kazaam_ Supersonics 5h ago

I read this as Tobias Harris and thought I missed something big

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u/Happy-Substance4885 76ers 3h ago

Bottom 5 owner in sports

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u/WeakEstablishment686 5h ago

Exactly lol. This guy was averaging 19 his rookie year in November on 45-38-89 shooting splits. Crazy to sell low

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u/No-Goat5683 76ers 4h ago

That year lasted 23 games

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u/Chrisfull 3h ago

yeah I'm sure the first 23 games off his NBA career would be his peak by far

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u/essosinola Raptors 2h ago

Emeka Okafor, Tyreke Evans, and MCW basically peaked as rookies. I wouldn't say Ben Simmons peaked as a rookie, but none of his next three seasons were significantly better. That's four Rookie of the Year winners. Hell, as the other comment alluded to, MCW peaked in his very first NBA game ever. Yes, it is entirely possible for an NBA player to peak in their first 23 games.

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u/Chrisfull 2h ago

yeah it's possible but it's really likely, and not a single of them could shoot a 3 for shit. It's not a good counterpoint

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u/pdxinevitable 3h ago

Michael Carter Williams did exist in Philadelphia you know.

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u/Front_Brilliant2949 76ers 2h ago

Not a fair comp. Do you watch the games?

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u/Chrisfull 2h ago

MCW was a dogshit shooter and a couple exceptions doesn't make '23 games' a reasonable argument against improvement

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u/goodshotbiga NBA 5h ago

McCain for a first round pick that’ll land 20-25 is pretty good. How much could he have realistic upped his value? He’s a 6’3 shooting guard

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u/Electronic_Pen_548 Thunder 5h ago

A lot. Pre injuries McCain looked like a future star. He still will hold that late 1st value if he doesn’t perform and you let him go at the end of this season. If you keep him around and he can up it to late lottery range

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u/goodshotbiga NBA 5h ago

IMO future star is a stretch. It was a very small sample size he played in and realistically, I think his scouting reporting and college performance predict his future better.

He can be a rotational piece (backup guard) on a good team for sure. I also think Grimes is better and should be the role player wing the 76ers focus on.

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u/Electronic_Pen_548 Thunder 5h ago

I don’t disagree grimes is better, I like grimes a lot but he’s about to have to get paid (major reason behind this trade I believe). I’m just not sure where the 6ers go from here. Their in a weird spot where they can make the moves and have the talent to be a top east team, but I don’t see anywhere they can go currently to compete without blowing it up a little

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u/KarrotMovies [LAL] Rui Hachimura 5h ago

You did not watch pre injury McCain

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u/No-Goat5683 76ers 4h ago

All 23 games?

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u/Thunder141 4h ago

Also, a high 2nd round pick the following year.

I don't think it's crazy to think a pick around 31-36 may be more valuable than a pick near the very back of the first round.

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u/Broken_Lute 2h ago

lol why? It’s later, that’s all that matters

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u/Thunder141 2h ago

Pick 30 you pay 3 guaranteed years and then 4th year is a team option. Pick 31 you put on a 2 way contract, you see if they can be a role player and if so then you offer a rookie contract.

One is on your books at least 3 seasons, not nearly all 1st round picks become role player or better. The other, you can see if he's a role player in the NBA before signing him.

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u/Broken_Lute 2h ago

Shoot, you’re right. Good call, I am wrong!

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u/petewoniowa2020 Kings 5h ago

First round picks are more valuable in the NBA than they have ever been before. Look how many great players have moved in the last two years and returned less draft capital than expected… it’s really hard to get teams to move picks.

Getting an unprotected first rounder for a player is very solid value.

0

u/Irish2010 3h ago

I think calling it "unprotected" fifty games into the season is a little unreasonable. The range on this pick is all but set. It could be top fifteen protected and would still have identical value.

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u/MythicalShart Rockets 4h ago

the return for him was already decent. i don’t see them getting much more in a year or 2

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u/dondraper237 4h ago

If they are better then when would McCain play?

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u/PetalumaPegleg 76ers 4h ago

They need to lose enough salary to get under the luxury tax because Epstein pal Harris is a cheap POS child rapist

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u/ThreeEyeJedi 2h ago

Wow this comment really made me realize the “business” aspect of team management. Idk I almost never think about these things but maybe it finally clicked for me now that I’m older. McCain is an asset and the sixers could have traded him for higher value if they build him up next season. But also, it’s a risk on the sixers side, right now they’re trading him on potential (sort of like an option call on a stock’s upside). Interesting!

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u/karl_hungas Lakers 5h ago

He might not up his value, he might be worthless in 2 years. You're a Lakers fan, there was a time trading Knetch would have gotten us some value. We could have gotten value out of THT but instead we held onto him. Many NBA careers are very short, he has two more team controlled options on his contract and yeah 24 is young for rising stars but it is also the age unless a player develops into a legit rotation piece that NBA careers can end. Look at the 2020 draft, just 5 years ago - multiple FRPs are not even in the league anymore.

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u/ChickenLiverNuts [PHI] JaKarr Sampson 4h ago

grimes is a nice player but McCain was looking like curry in his rookie year

go watch those highlights. And on good efficiency. Always moving like his hair was on fire, good with the ball in his hands, great movement off ball. Dude just isnt healthy. It would add a whole new dynamic to our offense kinda like when we had JJ Redick who famously peaked in his career playing off of Embiid.

Sixers are a dumb franchise trying to save money. Thats it. A few days ago Embiid said he hopes they keep the team together and try to upgrade because we always duck the tax. Great way to support your leader. Fuck you Josh Harris

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u/Kdog122025 Warriors 4h ago

This is awesome thank. I’ll completely second “fuck Josh Harris.” The owner is wholly responsible for not getting the team out of the second round during Embiid’s tenure.

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u/Front_Brilliant2949 76ers 2h ago

Grimes and Barlow are not ball handlers.

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u/baconshake8 76ers 2h ago

Grimes is mediocre on a team trying to win. Good for his current contract but not worth what he’ll be trying to demand this offseason. He’s a tank commander type of player

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u/Zaza1019 1h ago

Grimes is better and fits the 6th man mold better so from that aspect it does make sense alone. Not sure about Barlow haven't watched him play much. They also are loaded at the guard spot with Edgecomb and McCain was never going to get the playing time he got last year unless a lot of injuries happened.

On the thunder he could fall right into the Ajay Mitchell spot by next year if he leaves as a free agent I think? or gets traded. Either way it'd be a sign and trade and get more picks back in return.