Jared McCain: A Missed Opportunity for the Portland Trail Blazers?
The Portland Trail Blazers’ front office, under General Manager Joe Cronin, has adopted a unique approach to their rebuild. While many teams prioritize draft picks, Cronin has shown a preference for acquiring young players who complement their existing core, even if it means sacrificing future draft capital. This strategy yielded impressive results with players like Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara, but a recent opportunity to add another promising talent – Jared McCain – slipped through their fingers.
The Thunder’s Bold Move for Jared McCain
The Oklahoma City Thunder didn’t hesitate, packaging a 2026 first-round pick and three future second-round picks to acquire McCain from the Philadelphia 76ers. Even Daryl Morey, known for his shrewd trades, admitted the Sixers were “selling high” on the young guard. This aggressive move should have been a signal to other rebuilding teams, including Portland, to seriously consider a similar offer. As a general rule, when a team like the Thunder, renowned for their front office acumen, targets a player, it’s a strong indication of their potential.
McCain’s Immediate Impact in Oklahoma City
Unsurprisingly, McCain has thrived in Oklahoma City, nearly doubling his scoring average to 11.7 points per game while shooting an impressive 41.9% from three-point range through his first 13 games. This performance suggests he’s quickly becoming the player many projected him to be as the No. 16 overall pick in the 2024 draft. Some analysts even believe a re-draft today would see him selected in the top ten.
A Question of Value and Patience
McCain’s 2025-26 season was unfortunately hampered by injuries, but that shouldn’t overshadow his potential. The Sixers’ decision to move on from him while still young seems premature, and the Thunder capitalized on their impatience. As Zach Lowe of The Zach Lowe Show pointed out, Oklahoma City’s willingness to overpay with draft picks is a luxury few teams can afford.
“I’ve had some people ask me, ‘Where was the rest of the league on Jared McCain? If he was available, no one outbid Oklahoma City?’ Oklahoma City traded legit draft equity, a first-round pick, and some seconds, and I don’t think the Sixers were getting that for a guy who was on the fringes of their rotation and has played like 50 NBA games,” Lowe stated. “This is the benefit of being Oklahoma City [because] they don’t care about paying with draft picks. They’re built to overpay with draft picks.”
Why McCain Would Have Been a Perfect Fit for Portland
The Trail Blazers, despite not possessing the Thunder’s extensive draft capital, have quietly accumulated a respectable collection of picks, including assets from the Damian Lillard trade with Milwaukee and Orlando’s 2028 first-round pick acquired from Memphis. They could have realistically offered a package centered around the Magic’s pick without jeopardizing their rebuild. McCain’s combo-guard skillset, offering both shooting and playmaking, would have addressed key needs for Portland.
Missing out on McCain represents a missed opportunity for Cronin to make a bold, unconventional move – the type of gamble that could accelerate the Blazers’ rebuild. As the Western Conference contenders continue to strengthen, Portland needs to be proactive in adding talent. The Thunder’s acquisition of Jared McCain serves as a reminder that sometimes, taking a calculated risk on a high-upside player is worth the price.
