With the OKC Thunder knocked out of the playoffs and staring down some serious payroll issues, there is already rampant speculation about guard Cason Wallace.
The Thunder have big raises coming for Chet Holmgren and Jaylen Williams, which may force them to choose which role players they can afford to keep. Wallace is extension eligible this summer, though the Thunder could just let him go to restricted free agency and push the problem to next offseason.
Wallace fits the classic “great role player on a deep team,” which has people wondering what he might look like in a bigger role. He’s already an elite defender and shown flashes of scoring that make him look like a potential two-way star given that he’s only 22 years old.
He fits the profile of a guy who would slot right into a starting two-guard role on the Pistons, and some recent comments from Wallace have fans dreaming. In a recent press conference Wallace said, “I love the Thunder, but am more focused on getting better,” when pressed about his future extension.
Some fans took this to mean that Wallace is looking for a bigger role, possibly on another team, but I wouldn’t read too much into it, as Wallace is likely to get the job he wants on the Thunder.
The Thunder have plenty of ways to cut money
A lot of Thunder fans were screaming for Wallace to be starting over Lu Dort, and they’ll probably get their wish. OKC needs to cut $38 million to stay out of the second apron and can get there just by not exercising team options on Dort and Kenrich Williams and re-negotiating with Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Thunder already have Wallace locked up for next season, so he could easily end up in a starting role where he’ll have more opportunity to show what he can do.
The Thunder could even extend him this summer, as they have a wealth of players at his position, including Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe and Alex Caruso that they could trade if they wanted to cut money.
But others have pointed to the cheap cost of guys like Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain as possible replacements (god this team has a lot of guards!) who would be much cheaper than the extension Wallace is likely to command.
While I wouldn’t read too much into his comments, there is a chance OKC will balk at the price for Wallace eventually, but that won’t necessarily make him available this summer, and I am certain they will explore all other options.
The door is open a crack, but Wallace is a long shot at best for the Pistons.
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