OKC Thunder Set For Jared McCain-Like Trade, Insider Says
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OKC Thunder Set For Jared McCain-Like Trade, Insider Says
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 30: Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder reacts to a three-point shot during Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 30, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Getty
Rob Andrew Lo·HEAVY
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 12: Payton Sandfort #14 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket around Amir Coffey #2 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Paycom Center on April 12, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images) Getty
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 28: Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball as Marcus Sasser #8 of the Dallas Mavericks fights through a screen during the second half at American Airlines Center on October 28, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) Getty
The Oklahoma City Thunder are expected to make a Jared McCain-like trade this season, targeting a cost-controlled young player on a rookie deal rather than a high-salary star. This comes after the team suffered horrific injury luck with the setbacks on Jalen Williams, Cason Williams, Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso.
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ClutchPoints insider Brett Siegel reported on the Clutch Scoops podcast that general manager Sam Presti will likely look around the edges of the roster with draft assets, similarly to how OKC acquired McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers using surplus first- and second-round picks.
"At some point this season, the Thunder are going to make at least one trade. That's a given," Siegel said. "We know that Sam Presti is always very advantageous on the trade market. We didn't think that they were going to make a trade last season, and then Jared McCain fell in their laps because they leveraged some draft picks — first-round and second-round picks that weren't going to be of use to them. We could see something similar happen this year where it's not going to be a big splashy name, a 20+ million dollar guy."
In that previous deadline deal with the 76ers, the front office leveraged an abundance of draft capital to absorb a talented young player on a highly controllable rookie-scale contract.
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In exchange for McCain, the 76ers received a package of draft capital consisting of a 2026 first-round pick (via theHouston Rockets) and three future second-round picks.
Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber Could Be On The Move For The Thunder
GettyOKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – APRIL 12: Payton Sandfort #14 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket aroundAmir Coffey#2 of thePhoenix Sunsduring the first half at Paycom Center on April 12, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images)
Siegel suggested the franchise could replicate this formula by dangling their own young assets on rookie deals, specifically namingNikola TopicandThomas Sorber, to round out the roster edges.
"Maybe they look to get [Topic] on the court when he's healthy for a month or a month and a half just to showcase him to other teams," Siegel said. "And the same thing can be said about Thomas Sorber, a center that has yet to play for the Thunder. Two guys that are on rookie deals."
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A potential target already circulating in league circles isSacramento KingswingNique Clifford, a cheap depth option who has fallen out of rotation but fits the exact profile of Presti's opportunistic, value-driven trading style.
Notably, the Thunder declined Topic's $7.4 million contract option for the 2027–28 season. By making this decision ahead of the November 2 deadline, the 21-year-old Serbian point guard is now scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
The 12th overall pick in the 2024NBAdraft has been limited to just 10 total games over his first three seasons. After missing his rookie year with a torn ACL, he bravely battled testicular cancer and completed chemotherapy during the 2025–26 season. He is currently sidelined with no timetable to return following back surgery in June.
Jared McCain Could Be Used As A Trade Chip
GettyDALLAS, TEXAS – OCTOBER 28: Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball asMarcus Sasser#8 of theDallas Mavericksfights through a screen during the second half at American Airlines Center on October 28, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Aside from Topic and Sorber, Siegel also named Jared McCain as a potential trade piece.
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"We talked about Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber being those main trade assets that the Thunder could basically use as draft picks in a sense because they're fresh in terms of their NBA experience," he said. "I'd even venture to throw Jared McCain in there as being a trade piece."
"Jared McCain, I don't necessarily know if they can afford to keep him, and that's why I throw him in that category of, hey, he could be a potential trade piece next to Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber."
The Thunder signedOchai Agbajibut later backpedaled on their decision. Right now, it is unclear how the Thunder would deal with a shorthanded roster for the rest of the season.
