Cason Wallace’s next contract is starting to take shape, and Brandin Podziemski just helped set the market.
The OKC Thunder guard has spent the summer at the center of one big question: when a rookie-scale extension gets done, what kind of number will land on the page? The October 19 deadline is only about a week away, and while the timing remains unsettled, the money side is getting easier to read.
That shift came Saturday, when Podziemski and the Golden State Warriors agreed to a five-year, $110 million fully guaranteed rookie-scale contract extension. The deal keeps the guard in San Francisco through the 2031-32 campaign.
Podziemski has carved out a real role over his three full seasons in the league, and 2025-26 was his best year yet with Golden State. He averaged 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 37.1 percent from three. He’s also become a familiar part of the Warriors’ starting backcourt rotation next to Stephen Curry.
Even so, Wallace is viewed as the stronger player and the bigger upside swing. Around the league, and especially in Oklahoma, the sense is that Wallace brings more to the table - from his All-Defense-earning ability to the two-way impact that already helped push the Thunder to an NBA Championship.
That’s why Podziemski’s extension matters so much for Wallace. A five-year, $110 million deal now looks like the floor for the 22-year-old.
According to Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line, early talks between Wallace and the Thunder have been centered around $25 million per year. But that figure does not sound like Wallace’s target.
Sources indicate he’s aiming closer to the $31.5 million AAV Keyonte George recently landed with Utah.
That would line up with the way Wallace has been thinking about his value for a while now. The problem for Oklahoma City is fitting that kind of deal into the front office’s financial picture. If the Thunder are going to get there, Sam Presti may need to work some serious behind-the-scenes magic.
With the deadline moving fast, this remains one of the more important contract situations to watch.
In Other News...
Thunder Preseason Suddenly Belongs To The Young Players Fighting For Spots
The Thunder are taking a clear look at the back end of the roster in their upcoming preseason game in Atlanta on Oct. 12. Mark Daigneault said Oklahoma City will use the trip to lean heavily on rookies, two-way contract players and Exhibit-10 signees, giving those young players a longer runway to show what they can do while the team keeps its established core focused on the regular season opener.
For a group fighting for spots, that kind of preseason stage matters. With the rotation regulars staying home, the game becomes less about the usual Thunder shape and more about opportunity, evaluation and whether any of the younger names can separate themselves in a crowded race for attention as camp rolls on. [Read more 🡒]
Thomas Sorber Is Becoming A Real Thunder Roster Question
Thomas Sorbers first months with the Thunder have been defined less by what he can do on the floor than by what he still has to clear medically. The young big man has not yet appeared in Summer League, preseason or the regular season because of injuries, including a knee operation this offseason, and the organization has urged patience as he works his way back and leans on the teams medical staff.
For a frontcourt group that is already sorting through its own minute distribution, Sorbers situation adds another layer of uncertainty. He remains out for Mondays game against the Atlanta Hawks, and with Aday Mara turning in a strong preseason, the competition for those minutes only gets tighter as Oklahoma City waits to see when Sorber can finally start making his case on the court. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Offense May Be Unlocking A New Side Of SGA
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander spent the offseason working to sharpen his off-ball game, and the early preseason signs suggest the Thunder are already trying to make that work matter. Oklahoma City has been leaning into a quicker pace and more fastbreak chances, a change that fits both the roster and Gilgeous-Alexanders evolving skill set while also taking some of the burden off him as the primary organizer.
The shift is also showing up in how the Thunder handle possessions before they even get into their offense, with other players bringing the ball up more often so Gilgeous-Alexander can move into scoring positions sooner. For a team that has built its identity around adaptability, the next question is how far this adjustment goes once the games count and defenses start keying on the new look. [Read more 🡒]