4-for-1 trade completed! Thunder acquire another promising young talent

Even the defending champions were busy before this year's trade deadline.

According to insider Shams:Philadelphia sent "Magic" McKane to the Thunder in return for one first-round pick and three second-round picks.

McKane, born on February 20, 2004, was the 16th pick in the 2024 first round, a 1.91m dual-threat guard, a rising star with both talent and fan appeal. In his rookie season, he averaged 25.7 minutes, 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, shooting 46%, 38.3%, and 87.5% in the three main shooting categories; so far this season, he plays 16.8 minutes per game, scoring 6.6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists, with shooting splits of 38.5%, 37.8%, and 88%.

Originally, McKane was considered the strongest rookie of the 2024-25 season, but after playing only 23 games, he suffered a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee, ending his season early. The Rookie of the Year award eventually went to the same draft class’s fourth overall pick, Spurs guard Castle.

Since returning this season, he has struggled to regain form and has been overshadowed by the 2025 third overall pick Eichikum. Naturally, Philadelphia decided to move on, and bringing his talent to the Thunder—known for developing young players—might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

It’s worth noting, also from Shams’ report,Alexander suffered an abdominal muscle strain and will be out until after the All-Star break. His replacement on this year’s All-Star roster will be directly chosen by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

As a Canadian, Alexander was originally set to represent the World Team at the All-Star Game, so his replacement must be an international player. Rockets’ key big man Sengun (from Turkey) is a strong candidate, averaging 21.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1 block per game this season.

As for Alexander, he has played 49 games this season, averaging 33.3 minutes, an impressive 31.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 55.4% overall and hitting 1.8 three-pointers per game at a 39% clip, leading the Thunder to a league-best 40-12 record atop both the Western Conference and the entire NBA.