The Oklahoma City Thunder have spent the offseason reshaping the roster, and one of the biggest questions now sits right at the top of the rotation: who gets the open starting spot next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and Isaiah Hartenstein?
With Luguentz Dort traded to Atlanta for three second-round picks, there’s a real opening in the first five for the first time in years. That means head coach Mark Daigneault and his staff have a decision that could end up influencing the way OKC plays for most of the 2026-27 season.
The choice appears to be between Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell.
Wallace is the cleaner, more familiar fit. If he gets the nod, it would feel like a natural continuation of what the Thunder have already built.
Dort handled the point of attack, knocked down threes, defended wings and gave them downhill scoring when needed. Wallace brings a similar defense-first profile, just with a little more polish.
The former Kentucky guard also looks like a strong candidate to keep stacking All-Defense recognition after what was likely his first selection last season, when he finished near the top of the league in steals.
Mitchell offers something different. Starting him would mean adding another ball-handler and secondary point guard next to Gilgeous-Alexander, a real shift from the way Oklahoma City usually operates. Now heading into his third season, Mitchell has already carved out a reputation as one of the league’s most promising young guards.
He may still be better used as a sixth man who can control the offense in his own minutes, but he’s also talented enough to start and ease some of the scoring burden on the stars. In 57 games during his second season, Mitchell averaged 13.6 points while shooting 49%, then took his game up another level in the postseason before his injury ended his run in the Western Conference Finals.
The Thunder’s closing group, though, is a separate matter. Whoever starts won’t necessarily be locked into finishing games, and Oklahoma City has more lineup flexibility than most teams around the league.
Still, this is the kind of choice the Thunder seem likely to make before opening night and ride with. Injuries could always change the picture, but for now, Wallace and Mitchell stand as the two names fighting for what may be the defining offensive decision on the roster.
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Chet Holmgren and Jared McCain spent part of the offseason in Los Angeles working side by side, a reminder of how much the Thunders future already runs through a pair of young players still sharpening different parts of their games. Holmgren, in a group of NBA players taking part in workouts, focused on pull-up jumpers, while McCain put his attention on isolation skills, two areas that speak directly to how Oklahoma City wants its next wave to grow.
The Thunder are being viewed as co-favorites with the San Antonio Spurs for the 2026-27 season, and that status has a lot to do with the expectation that Holmgren and McCain will carry major roles by then. For Oklahoma City, the offseason work matters because it is less about where these two are today than how quickly they can become central pieces when the next step arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylin Williams Is Becoming Too Important For OKC To Overlook
Jaylin Williams has turned a breakout season into something more meaningful for Oklahoma City, carving out a place in the Thunder rotation that now looks hard to ignore. His improved three-point shooting has changed how defenses have to treat him, and the work he put in to slim down has helped him become quicker while still giving OKC the size and toughness it wants in the frontcourt.
The next step is about proving this level is real and sustainable heading into the 2026-27 NBA season. Williams will need to keep producing, stay a legitimate outside threat and continue showing he can handle multiple frontcourt spots, because the Thunder are increasingly counting on that kind of versatility from one of their key role players. [Read more 🡒]