Cason Wallace is heading into a bigger offensive job for the Oklahoma City Thunder, but the key for him is simple: don’t start hunting shots that aren’t there.
That’s the challenge as Wallace prepares to take on more responsibility, with a projected move into the starting spot opened by Lu Dort’s departure. Wallace already has a reputation as one of OKC’s top defenders, and last season he backed that up by earning All-NBA Defensive Second Team honors while averaging 1.9 steals per game.
Now the Thunder want more scoring from him, too. Wallace has shown he can put the ball in the basket when he gets more chances, but this next step can’t turn into forcing the issue.
That was part of Dort’s problem as time went on. His three-point shooting dipped from 41.2% in the 2024-25 season to 34.4% last year, and that drop played a role in OKC moving on from him.
Wallace did give the Thunder a huge boost from deep in the playoffs, where he shot 48.4% from three. But that kind of stretch can’t warp how he approaches the game. The more realistic path is the one he’s already built his value on: stay patient, keep moving, and keep letting open looks come to him.
He’s not the kind of guard who manufactures his own shot possession after possession. Last year in the playoffs, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Ajay Mitchell handled the ball and created, while Wallace kept working through the offense until an extra pass found him open for a three. That’s still the blueprint, even with more on his plate now.
And he won’t be doing it alone. Gilgeous-Alexander, Mitchell, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren give Oklahoma City plenty of scoring punch around him, which should allow Wallace to stay in his lane and avoid pressing.
The Thunder want Wallace at his best, and for him, that means leaning into what already works instead of trying to become something else to cover for what the roster lacks.
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The next chase, though, comes with a different kind of pressure. Another strong season from Oklahoma City would only harden the argument for a third straight MVP, especially with Victor Wembanyama looming as the name many around the league expect to set the pace in the race. For the Thunder, the stakes are bigger than one trophy vote, because staying on top again could shape the entire conversation around Gilgeous-Alexanders place in the league. [Read more 🡒]