Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell may be the obvious names attached to the Thunder’s offseason turnover, but Kenrich Williams has a real chance to come out of it in a better spot too.
Wallace and Mitchell fit cleanly into the openings created by the departures of Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins. The expectation is that Wallace takes over Dort’s spot as Oklahoma City’s starting two guard, while Mitchell is positioned to benefit from the extra on-court chances left behind by the exits of the other two wings.
Williams, though, could wind up being more than a background piece in all this. With Dort gone, he becomes one of the longest-tenured players on the roster and a veteran who has already seen the full range of what this team has gone through.
He also brings something the Thunder may need more of after losing Wiggins and Joe: perimeter shooting. Williams owns a career 36.8 percent mark from deep, a number that could help soften the scoring loss on the outside.
Mark Daigneault’s praise has only added to that possibility. Throughout training camp, the Thunder coach has repeatedly made clear how much this staff values “Kenny Hustle,” and with the roster changes and some uncertainty around the younger additions, Williams could be leaned on more often in 2026-27.
He also appears to be buying into what he sees from one of those newcomers. During a practice-day media session on Thursday, Williams spoke highly of lottery pick Aday Mara, saying he sees All-Defensive potential and that, in his eyes, "Sky's the limit" when it comes to his upside.
That kind of endorsement matters, especially after Mara drew plenty of criticism for his Summer League play and some uneasy predictions about his rookie season. But his play with Team Spain in this summer’s FIBA World Cup Qualifiers seems to have changed the mood a bit, and Williams’ praise suggests he’s shown enough in camp to earn real confidence from one of the veterans in the frontcourt.
In Other News...
Thunder Starting Guard Battle Carries One Big Question For Shai
The Thunder head into camp with a familiar kind of puzzle, only this one sits right next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the backcourt. Lu Dorts offseason departure opened up the starting shooting guard spot, and Oklahoma City has been treating it like a real competition rather than a ceremonial handoff. It is the sort of decision that can shape the early rhythm of the season, especially for a team that values fit, pace and defensive balance as much as raw talent.
Mark Daigneault has kept the door open while the staff works through different looks in training camp and preseason. For Shai, the question is less about who can score and more about who can make the pairing feel seamless from the jump. The Thunder have time to sort it out, but the longer the battle stretches, the more it becomes one of the quieter but more important decisions on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Could Be Eyeing Another Low Cost Trade Swing
The Thunder have already shown they are willing to take a smart swing on a young player with room to grow, and the Jared McCain deal is the kind of move that keeps their front office in the conversation when another opportunity pops up. This latest one centers on Dalton Knecht, whose name is surfacing as the Lakers get closer to trimming their roster and reshaping the end of the bench.
From Oklahoma Citys side, the appeal is obvious enough to follow the breadcrumbs. The Thunder have an open roster spot, plenty of draft capital and the kind of salary cap flexibility that can make a low-cost deal easier to navigate, while Knechts rookie contract adds longer-term appeal for a team that likes to keep optionality in play. Whether the Lakers actually move him soon is the unresolved piece, but OKC has the profile of a team ready to pounce if he does become available. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Big Man Depth Could Decide How Far This Team Goes
The Thunders frontcourt picture has become one of the more interesting parts of their rise, with the double-big look of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein giving Oklahoma City a different kind of edge. After leaning into that alignment, the team has added more size to the mix with Aday Mara and Thomas Sorber, signaling that the big man rotation is not just a present-day strength but an area they expect to keep shaping.
For a team that already likes the balance Holmgren and Hartenstein bring, the next step is figuring out how the newer pieces fit without slowing the development curve. Hartenstein has made clear he is willing to help guide Mara as he gets comfortable, which only adds to the sense that Oklahoma City sees this as more than depth for depths sake. How quickly that group comes together could end up mattering a lot when the games get bigger. [Read more 🡒]