Thunder have Westbrook to thank for McCain haul

Thunder have – Russell Westbrook’s 2019 exit is what made Oklahoma City’s Jared McCain deal possible in the first place—turning a painful trade into a centerpiece draft return that is now paying off on the court.

Oklahoma City didn’t just land Jared McCain at the deadline—it did it with a draft pick that traces back to a trade many Thunder fans still remember.

The Thunder’s first-round selection acquired from Houston. the centerpiece of the Jared McCain trade. ended up becoming Labaron Philon Jr. That pick started as the 22nd selection in the 2026 NBA Draft. When Oklahoma City shipped it to Philadelphia as part of the package for McCain. it didn’t just change hands—it set the direction for the rest of the franchise’s short-term future.

Along with that 22nd pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Oklahoma City gave the 76ers three second-rounders to complete the move. The prize on the other side was McCain, a 22-year-old guard who was struggling for the Sixers before the Thunder reset his role.

With Oklahoma City, he found rhythm quickly. McCain started making shots and gaining confidence, then delivered real impact once the playoffs arrived. Over 15 playoff appearances, he averaged 10.0 points and 1.9 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game. He wasn’t just active—he had games where he flipped momentum. He produced two 20-point outings to help the Thunder win.

But it wasn’t a clean finish. McCain’s surge still wasn’t enough to get Oklahoma City past the Spurs in the conference finals.

The reason that detail matters is simple: Oklahoma City wasn’t shopping for a future compliment. It was trying to survive injuries. The Thunder desperately needed McCain as Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell dealt with injuries. When those absences hit, the trade looked less like a luxury and more like an answer.

That answer connects back to Russell Westbrook.

Sam Presti, Oklahoma City’s executive leader, wouldn’t have been able to acquire McCain without trading Westbrook in 2019. That trade was painful. Westbrook spent his first 11 seasons in Oklahoma City, winning an MVP and leading the team to the playoffs nine times. The dynasty never quite materialized. but the success was real—and the departure meant moving on from a Hall of Fame legacy.

The pay-off, though, is now being measured in what the Thunder are still able to build with the assets that move along the way.

When Houston regretted trading for Westbrook, it came fast. The Rockets gave up Chris Paul and two first-round draft picks to win one playoff series. Russ was then traded to the Wizards after just one season, and Houston began a rebuild.

Oklahoma City took a different path—one built around timing and reinvestment. The Thunder made the playoffs with CP3 and flipped him for a first-round draft pick in 2020. Oklahoma City then took Nikola Topic with the 12th overall pick in 2024. They also acquired two swaps that did not get conveyed in this deal.

In the end, the full return tied to the Westbrook trade was Chris Paul, Topic, and Philon Jr. for Westbrook.

So when the Thunder look like they “got genius” value out of the Jared McCain deal, the argument isn’t just that McCain played well. It’s that the draft pick that made the whole trade possible is already living inside the Thunder’s present.

The full details of the Jared McCain trade show how direct the exchange was.

The Thunder received Jared McCain.

The 76ers received Labaron Philon Jr., a 2027 2nd round pick, and two 2028 2nd round picks.

Even so, Oklahoma City still owes Philadelphia three second-round draft picks. And the complication isn’t theoretical—it’s about how hard it can be to land the right value on late selections. especially in the NIL era. Players are getting millions to stay in college. which makes many of the “late selection” paths to the NBA less appealing. especially for two-way or non-guaranteed contracts.

That means Philadelphia would likely need one of these picks to hit big just to salvage any serious claim to having won the trade. The expectation embedded in the reporting is that this is unlikely, and that McCain should only improve as he keeps playing in Oklahoma City.

There’s also the evaluation of what Oklahoma City got back compared to what Philadelphia received. The piece places McCain as a better prospect than Philon. It notes that the rookie guard is 6’2 and lacks the explosiveness of McCain. In that framing, Oklahoma City wasn’t just swapping names—it was upgrading a trajectory.

And for all the uncertainty that comes with playoffs ending short, McCain’s role so far has been exactly what the Thunder needed: scoring, confidence, and the ability to deliver on big nights when Williams and Mitchell can’t.

Westbrook’s exit in 2019 was the start of the cost. But the Thunder’s current ceiling—tied to the draft value that returned from that move—now feels like the resolution.

Oklahoma City had to give up Russell Westbrook. the future Hall of Famer. to get the draft pick that was sent to Philadelphia as part of the McCain deal. Both moves were bold. That’s the point fans return to when they look at how Presti operates: when the roster gets too expensive. when the math changes. and when the franchise needs a new edge. the Thunder keep choosing action.

For now, the Thunder’s path looks like it’s still working—because the Westbrook trade kept paying dividends long after the applause faded.

Oklahoma City Thunder Russell Westbrook Jared McCain Sam Presti Houston Rockets Philadelphia 76ers Labaron Philon Jr. Chris Paul Nikola Topic NIL era