OKC Trade Deadline Grade: Did the Thunder Do Well?

This is the most obvious move that OKC made. A playmaker is just what they need as we’ve seen so far this season. With Ajay Mitchell recovering from injury, McCain comes perfectly as a reliable guard on the rotation for the defending champs. Notably, a late first-rounder, the former Sixers guard initially had a great rookie season. After suffering a season-ending torn meniscus, McCain was never close to earning a spot in Philly’s rotation.

Still, OKC gets what they need by throwing away some picks. They traded three second-rounders and the Rockets’ 2026 first-round pick. Let’s be honest, that Houston pick was going nowhere, especially with the Texas squad holding fort on the fourth spot in the West. What makes it a win for Oklahoma City overall is that McCain still has the potential to be a strong 20-point scorer. They also hold him for two more years after this season, as he’s still on his rookie contract.

OKC isn’t a great three-point shooting team, but McCain being an extra firepower may help remedy that. Come playoff time, the Thunder need all hands on deck. McCain being in Oklahoma City before the second half of the season should give him a head start.

Final Curtain for the Ousmane Dieng Project

We all know that OKC wasn’t keeping Mason Plumlee for long, as size isn’t just an issue anymore. You’ve got Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein taking that role. Letting go of Ousmane Dieng was a win as his contract is set to expire by the end of the season. It was pretty obvious that he’s the next Thunder player who’d be cut, considering his lack of improvement.

This also opened up a spot for McCain as well. A better shooter and a reliable playmaker, Dieng certainly had to go. Getting Plumlee was just an essential part of the trade, and the Thunder simply waived him after that. It saves OKC over $3 million over waiving Dieng instead. He’s still young, but now he has a better chance of making a break for another team.

Draft Rights to Who?

Right now, OKC doesn’t need a hefty amount of money. Acquiring the draft rights to Balsa Koprivica don’t mean a lot since the season is halfway through, and the Thunder are stacking it up to the playoffs. Koprivica only had a short collection of Summer League stints with the Detroit Pistons. Other than that, he may be one of the players who aren’t making the jump to the NBA, or probably be lucky enough like Vasilije Micic.

This deal also did not lose OKC any assets other than cash considerations to the Utah Jazz, which is definitely still a win—but definitely an unnecessary one.

How Did the Trade Deadline Affect OKC’s Championship Odds?

The Thunder’s chances of winning the NBA Finals this year didn’t drastically jump. But it did put the rest of the league on notice. Imagine the defending champions making a change when you sit idle by the trade deadline? Now that sends a stronger message than most people think.

The Thunder’s trades were a huge swing. Not because it made huge changes for the team, but because it opened up their chances for a better rotation. This gives them a lot of flexibility and lets them prepare for the future while getting more shooting as well.

That does indeed spell a good way to manage the trade deadline. OKC gets an A for this one.