The New Orleans trade deadline of doing nothing continues, as they just watched a perfect trade candidate come off the board in now-former 76ers guard Jared McCain. The second-year guard was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick and a trio of future second-rounders.
McCain's second season in the league has been filled with more downs than ups, as the Duke product has seen his points per game fall from 15.7 to 6.6 and his minutes per game have shrunk by nearly nine. But while the scoring numbers have taken a step back, McCain’s three-point shooting has remained steady, which is why he would have been a perfect value add for the Pelicans.
Seeing a more established, better-run team nab a player who could have helped the Pelicans both in the short and long term is a tough blow. McCain will enjoy feeding off the open looks the Thunder's offense creates from beyond the arc. While the Pelicans will be forced to figure it out on their own.
Pelicans fumble chances to add real shooting help with Jared McCain
I understand the Pelicans are not in the market to be shopping first-round picks anymore after the offseason disaster that was trading their 2026 first-round pick. Just to end up 13-38, 51 games into the season. However, two things can be true as the Pelicans are in dire need of a specialist, someone they can just trust to be a reliable threat from beyond the arc. That is Jared McCain.
As I said, the scoring production hasn't nearly been at the same level it was during his electric 23-game rookie season. That said, the shooting numbers are almost identical. Last season, McCain shot 38.3 percent from three—this season, that number has only fallen by 0.5 percent to 37.8 percent.
The Pelicans' roster problem has never been a lack of talent, and I'll stand by that—they just don't have a roster built for the modern NBA. New Orleans this season ranks in the bottom five in three-point attempts, makes, and overall three-point percentage. So obviously one trade wouldn't fully address this major roster flaw, but it would help and would've given the team a shooter on his rookie deal who could grow and develop alongside players like Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen.
Instead, the rich get richer. For the foreseeable future, Pelicans fans will be left watching a player who could have been easily acquired thrive on a team projected to run the Western Conference for years. Well done Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver...