The Rockets 2026 first-round pick that OKC traded to acquire Jared McCain was the very last remaining asset from the 2019 Russell Westbrook trade, which Daryl Morey himself traded to OKC when he was Houston’s GM.
Back in 2019, the Houston Rockets traded Chris Paul and 2 first round picks + 2 first round pick swaps to OKC for Russell Westbrook, and the last of those picks was the 2026 first round pick which OKC just used to acquire Jared McCain.
Current players and picks that OKC have acquired via assets obtained in the Russell Westbrook trade:
Jared McCain
Aaron Wiggins
Nikola Topic
Protected 2027 Denver Nuggets first-round pick (top-5 protected)
Nearly a decade later, the Russell Westbrook trade continues to pay dividends for the OKC Thunder.