Jared McCain‘s trade from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Oklahoma City Thunder caught everyone by surprise. After suffering a meniscus tear and a UCL tear, McCain was finally healthy and reestablishing rhythm with the group.
The strong chemistry amongst the Sixers was bolstered by the second-year guard becoming a fan favorite in the locker room. Veteran Kyle Lowry called McCain “one of the most lovable guys out there.” Tyrese Maxey referred to him as his “little brother.” The 21-year-old may have only been with the 76ers for a year and a half, but he left an indelible imprint on the team.
The close-knit bond surrounding the group is why nearly every player paid tribute to McCain on social media soon after he was traded. It is also why President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey turned heads when he claimed the team “sold high” on the 16th overall pick.
Although it often came in small flashes, McCain showed glimpses of the kind of boost he provides. As a skilled three-point shooter, his marksmanship is one that any championship-contending team would love.
The trade caught him off guard. It was also a stab in the chest for a player who was just starting to come into his own.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. That couldn’t be truer for the hidden gem that OKC scooped up.
Smooth Integration
McCain’s seamless fit with the Thunder has occurred for many reasons. First, his personality fits right in on a team full of young players.
Off the court, his quirky TikToks and polished nails mesh with the team’s unique personalities. Individualism is welcome; encouraged. Where his eccentricity may be seen as immature or unserious, it provides just the levity to help a team power through the tough losses and dog days of a long season.
Fellow Tik-Tok ballers Jaylin Williams and Jalen Williams were the first to bring that kind of childlike playfulness to the squad. Just over a month in with his new team, McCain is already making a good impression.
On the court, his play has given no reason to berate his idiosyncrasies.
McCain’s Utilization
Since McCain arrived in OKC, he has shot 43.8% from beyond the arc on five attempts per game. But his three-point efficiency isn’t the only skill set he has brought to the Thunder. His two-man game with big man Isaiah Hartenstein and ability to play off-ball have unlocked a new avenue of offense for OKC. In Philly, McCain watched the Sixers run screen-setting and dribble-handoff actions between Embiid and Maxey, but seldom got to partake in those himself.
In OKC, Mark Daigneault has utilized McCain better than Sixers coach Nick Nurse did.
His ability to zip off screens for threes and drive his way to the basket to finish or get fouled has been the biggest asset he has brought to the table.
“He’s a guy that you have to race off the line, which opens up some of those drives. I didn’t know his game that well, especially that part of his game — those mid-range plays show off his strength,” coach Mark Daigneault praised. “He gets going downhill, and he’s able to absorb contact and rise up and shoot a balanced rhythm shot, which is harder to do than it looks.”
The acquisition of McCain has also helped OKC withstand injuries to Jalen Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Ajay Mitchell. McCain ensures that at least one three-point threat is on the court at all times.
Big Contributions to Winning
Against the Denver Nuggets on March 9, the team found itself in a tight race throughout the game. Denver’s defense hounded Gilgeous-Alexander throughout the night, forcing him to give up the ball.
McCain took advantage of the open looks he got from the Nuggets’ defense. In the third and fourth quarters, he nailed timely shots, including some mid-range buckets that Daigneault talked about. While the mid-range game may be considered a lost art in the modern NBA, McCain is proving that it is still a powerful weapon to keep in one’s arsenal. As a member of the Thunder, he is shooting a blistering 72.2% from shots 10-16 feet away from the basket.
McCain was a team-high +19 in OKC’s 129-126 win that night, pouring in 14 points and one steal.
An important part in McCain seeing the floor has been ability to become more of a two-way player. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault made it known to McCain that he would not work around him being a defensive liability, forcing him to improve on that end.
On a team with the number one defensive rating in the league, McCain doesn’t need to be a standout sensation; he just needs to hold his own, which he has.
Thriving Lineups
Against the Timberwolves six days later, McCain was once again a catalyst. Daigneault inserted the Duke alum to start the fourth quarter, with his squad clinging to a four-point lead. After McCain hit a huge three to extend OKC’s lead from six to nine, he then hit another one a few moments later, building an 11-point cushion. The team never looked back.
Just as individual talent is essential in winning, so is identifying the best lineup combinations. McCain has particularly thrived alongside fellow sharpshooter Isaiah Joe. The two have a net rating of +22.7 together, forcing defenses to pick their poison. Additionally, when SGA is incorporated into the equation, lineups featuring the trio have a +43.3 net rating. This golden pairing is what Gilgeous-Alexander raved about as a match made in heaven.
“Having those guys out there to space the floor, kind of have teams second-guess that, is a luxury,” SGA said of playing with Joe and McCain.
The spark plug the tandem provides is what has allowed the Thunder’s bench to continue pressuring teams over the course of a 48-minute game.
In Good Hands
It will be hard for Daigneault not to find playoff minutes for McCain if he keeps playing the way that he has.
“He’s played himself into a situation where he’s one of the guys in the rotation,” Daigneault said. “…He’s somebody who has carved out a nice niche for our team.”
McCain has done everything the Thunder have asked. He has quickly assimilated into a new team mid-season on the basketball court and in the locker room. His versatility has made him playable in a variety of different lineup combinations. McCain is just the kind of Swiss Army knife that could steal a game for the Thunder in the postseason.
Sam Presti dug up another diamond in the rough. The Sacramento native is still coming to terms with the reality of the trade, which won’t include abandoning the relationships he fostered in Philly. But his smooth integration with his new team has helped ease the transition. Now in Oklahoma, he is thriving with more freedom and proper utilization.
A diamond will always be a diamond, no matter how far it’s been buried. Sometimes they just need a little polishing and with OKC, McCain is shining.
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