Jared McCain Traded to Thunder: Fantasy Basketball Implications for OKC and Philly

A couple more NBA trades have gone down since our last story (Cavaliers, Clippers trade), so let's back into some trade breakdowns.

The first deal we will discuss is the 76ers sending Jared McCain to the Thunder in exchange for a first-round pick and three second-round selections.

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McCain's Numbers

McCain was off to a good start in his rookie season last year, but an injury slowed his progress. He has played in 37 games this season, but his numbers are way down.

In 23 games (eight starts) last season, McCain averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 0.7 steals over 25.7 minutes a contest. He shot 46% overall and 38.3% from 3-point land.

In his 37 games (one start) this season, McCain is averaging just 6.6 points, 2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.1 blocks over 16.8 minutes. He's shooting just 38.5% overall and he's 37.8% from deep.

His role is simply smaller this season, which explains the drastic dropoff in production.

McCain's Outlook

McCain has a chance to back up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City. SGA has been dealing with an injury, and it's expected to keep him out for a little while. Adding McCain is insurance for SGA and allows the Thunder to not have to rush their star back.

OKC paid a hefty price for McCain, so they must see something they like with him.

Ajay Mitchell and Cason Wallace are some other point guard options, so it's not like McCain is a shoe-in for the backup point guard minutes. Those two also could play at the shooting guard spot, and Wallace is a small forward option too, so the team could find ways to get all three players involved.

I think the trade is a positive for McCain, if not just for the fact that his role in Philly dried up. He's got a stud point guard to contend with still, but there's maybe a touch less competition for backup minutes.

McCain is owned in just 14% of leagues right now. I'd expect that to rise a little bit, especially if he plays enough in SGA's absence. Definitely keep tabs on McCain over the next several games.

Outlook for the Thunder

At full health, Gilgeous-Alexander is still the best player for Oklahoma City. Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein round out a very talented starting five.

Mitchell, Wallace, Alex Caruso, Aaron Wiggins and Jaylin Williams are some of the top backups on the team, with Isaiah Joe and Kenrich Williams a couple more options.

Adding McCain to that group just makes the Thunder a deeper team. It lengthens the lineup a bit, and gives OKC more options as they look to win it all.

The addition of McCain doesn't really impact the fantasy outlooks for too many players, but it could be a nice depth addition for a team in the title hunt again.

Outlook for the 76ers

Without McCain in Philly, it opens some minutes at point guard.

That's the spot that Tyrese Maxey dominates, but for the few minutes he doesn't play, Quentin Grimes, Kyle Lowry and Eric Gordon are the backup options now. 

VJ Edgecombe is at shooting guard, and also blocking McCain, so moving on from him (especially at the price he went for) makes sense to do for Philly. Grimes, Kelly Oubre Jr. Gordon and Lowry are other shooting guard options.

Oubre is the starter at small forward. Jabari Walker, Justin Edwards, Grimes and Trendon Watford are additional options at that spot.

Dominick Barlow has been starting at power forward with Paul George suspended. Watford, Oubre, Walker and Adem Bona are additional options there.

Joel Embiid is the center when he's healthy enough to play. Bona and Andre Drummond are backup options, and Barlow and Watford could slide there if needed too.

Philly is still a very good team, even with George suspended and McCain traded. The team is in the playoff hunt, and in a wide open Eastern Conference, maybe the addition of George late in the season will give the team a chance to make a deep playoff run.

Losing McCain doesn't really impact much in Philly. It opens some backup point guard minutes, but with Maxey there already, Grimes, Lowry and Gordon can handle the few minutes the stud guard doesn't play.