This year's NBA trade deadline has been stocked full of surprises! James Harden gets swapped for Darius Garland, Memphis moves Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah for three first-round picks, and finally, this afternoon, the Oklahoma City Thunder made a surprising move of their own, acquiring second-year guard Jared McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers.

McCain is a buy-low prospect who showed some real high-level flashes during his rookie season prior to being injured and has hit a bit of a sophomore slump, sliding down the 76ers rotation after Philadelphia drafted VJ Edgecomb.

It is no secret that the Thunder are in need of guard depth, ball-handling, and three-point shooting. McCain theoretically should bring all three of those talents to an OKC team that just got even thinner with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander announced to be out with an abdominal strain and won't be reevaluated until after the NBA's All-Star break.

The Thunder did have to give up some assets in the form of a 2026 Rockets first-round pick, along with three future second-round picks, including the most favorable of the Thunder, Rockets, Pacers, Heat's in 2027, the Bucks' in 2027, and the Thunder's in 2028.

But in the end, I like this as a nice upside swing that could really pay dividends if McCain is able to rediscover his rookie season self as an elite shooter with some potential on the ball as well.