The former 76er ignites OKC's offense, dropping 20+ points again and seamlessly fitting into a championship-contending team.
The Oklahoma City Thunder's deadline deal with the Philadelphia 76ers for Jared McCain is the trade that keeps on giving.
For the fourth time since Daryl Morey "sold high" on the young sharpshooter, McCain scored 20 or more points for the Thunder in a Wednesday night blowout win over the Brooklyn Nets. McCain accounted for a game-high 26 points and drilled 5 of 9 shots from deep.
Scoring more points than reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander practically guaranteed a postgame podium press interview.
"Yeah, I mean this is super cool just to be on a team that's the number one seed," McCain said of his confidence going into his first postseason. "Like just having playoff hopes is one thing and then being the number one seed and trying to defend that is is really cool. Especially them being a champion. And I'm just trying to come in and play any part I can to help this team be a champion again. But yeah, really really confident going into any game with these guys."
One thing that may have surprised even analysts and fans who were high on McCain is how quickly he has meshed with an established Thunder roster. The former 76er has made the most of his minutes and has shot lights out from the moment he donned an OKC jersey.
"When you first get traded, you don't know anything what's going to happen. Especially when you find out you're getting traded to the championship team. So I didn't have many expectations for myself. Kind of just coming in trying to learn as much as possible. Which is tough because you don't know what's happening," McCain said of his seamless fit with the Thunder. "But once you step out there with these guys, like they just give me the confidence. Like it's really simple. The coaching staff helped me just right away not giving me too much information, just kind of letting me play my game. They know I can play and that's all been helping me. Just play alongside all these guys and you know they're already champions so just being able to fit in any way I can. But I think that the fit is just, again, I think Sam Presti did a great job knowing knowing exactly how I would fit. But this offense is amazing and being able to move off the ball and play with shooters, play with guys who are elite at pick and roll, great bigs. It makes it super easy to just come in and fit in, especially the way I play."
The Jared McCain trade has been a win-win. Not for the Thunder and the 76ers, mind you. But certainly for McCain and OKC.