What happened: Guard Jared McCain, acquired by the Oklahoma City Thunder from the Philadelphia 76ers at the trade deadline, says he is grateful for the move. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gifted his teammates watches after collecting his second MVP award this season, and McCain singled out the gesture in voicing his appreciation. He thanked general manager Sam Presti and Gilgeous-Alexander while describing how he has embraced OKC.

Why it matters: The Thunder's bid to repeat as champions ended in a Game 7 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, but McCain's fit signals continuity heading into the next campaign. As one of the team's more efficient perimeter shooters, he projects as a rotation piece, and his stated buy-in to the city and locker room matters for a roster expected to run it back.

What to watch: McCain will report to his first Thunder training camp in the fall, entering his third NBA season in 2026-27. Watch how his role expands as OKC retools for another title push.