The Pistons didn’t make any significant upgrades at the trade deadline, but the Thunder certainly did. Even as a proven contender and likely championship favorite, Oklahoma City dipped into their war chest of assets to acquire Jared McCain. And it’s already paying off for them, proven again by McCain’s solid performance against the Pistons on Wednesday night.
McCain breaking out in OKC is no surprise; anyone could see he still had huge potential but was buried on the 76ers depth chart. But the low cost to acquire him was shocking. The Thunder only gave up a few draft picks - Houston’s first-rounder this year and three second rounders. None of those are high picks, and the Pistons would’ve been wise to trade something of similar value for a talented shooter that’s only 22 years old.
The Pistons could really use someone like McCain
With most of their starters out with injury, the Thunder turned to McCain for more offense. He scored 20 points off the bench and his offensive impact stood out. McCain is a fearless shooter who’s constantly moving for better looks. His motion occupies defensive attention and opens lanes for his teammates even when he doesn’t touch the ball.
But he’s plenty capable with the ball in his hands too. He can leverage his shooting threat to smartly attack the rim. McCain has shown great shooting touch off the dribble as well and has enough playmaking chops to run the offense at times. He would be a great option to take some load off Cade Cunningham in a pinch or throughout a playoff series.
Instead of pursuing a strong upgrade like McCain, the Pistons settled for a proactive financial move by dumping Jaden Ivey. They did receive Kevin Huerter, a formerly feared sharpshooter, in return but he was already having a down year in Chicago and isn't even seeing the floor now in Detroit. Even at his best, Huerter would be pretty limited beyond his shooting ability while McCain brings more versatility.
McCain looked like the favorite to win Rookie of the Year last season before suffering a season-ending injury. That track record of great play should have him a prime trade target for any team in need of more shooting: a list that should arguably be headlined by the Pistons. True, Detroit has found success this season in spite of their shooting woes but that weakness looms larger against the best teams. In the playoffs, having a versatile weapon like McCain could make all the difference in a tight series.
The Pistons have a golden opportunity to make a deep playoff run and even compete for a championship in a weakened Eastern Conference. Rather than resting on the laurels of their season or staying patient, I would've liked to see them take a worthwhile swing for a player like Jared McCain.