Multiple Oklahoma City Thunder players reacted to the organization landing guard Jared McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Philadelphia 76ers made a surprise move on Wednesday by trading sophomore guard Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Although McCain was struggling in his second year with the 76ers, the 21-year-old was leading the charge for Rookie of the Year in the 2024-2025 season before suffering an injury. He averaged 15.3 points on 46% shooting as a rookie in Philadelphia.
Most are viewing this deal as a massive win for the Thunder, as general manager Sam Presti and company continue to build out their young core. It's clear those in the Thunder's locker room are excited to have McCain joining the mix, as forward Jaylin Williams shared his thoughts on the move.
"Great player, of course, great shooter," Williams said, per Steve McGehee. "I honestly haven't watched a lot of 76ers games this season, so I don't know what this season has looked like, but I know from last season he was one of the frontrunner rookies. I know he's a great player, great chemistry.
Williams continued, "I'm getting tagged in a bunch of stuff saying we're going to make TikToks together. I know he's a fun guy to be around, kind of from what I've heard around the league... I'm sure he's going to be a really cool guy."
As previously mentioned, McCain is having a rocky second season, averaging just 6.6 points and 1.7 assists on 38.5% shooting in 37 appearances. However, his outside shooting remains on point, as he's hitting 37.8% of his shots from the arc on 3.2 attempts per game.
Oklahoma City veteran forward Kenrich Williams also reacted to the trade, saying, "I think he'll bring some shooting to the team. I haven't watched a lot of him, but I know that he's a shooter. He's a scorer as well, so he'll fit right in with our team. Excited to have him."
From a chemistry perspective, the decision to acquire McCain was a no-brainer, but it's also ideal from a fit perspective.
The Thunder's backcourt is led by MVP guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who thrives on both ends of the floor. Supporting him are Lugentz Dort and Cason Wallace, who are primarily praised for their defensive abilities.
So, adding McCain, an offensive-minded guard, to the mix is yet another masterful move by Oklahoma City.
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