The Thunder’s decision to move Luguentz Dort to the Atlanta Hawks this offseason was built on a simple bet: Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell can split up the work and make up the difference. On paper, that makes sense. Both are on rookie contracts, both bring defensive value, and both give Oklahoma City a cheaper path as luxury-tax and second-apron restrictions tighten.
But Dort was never just a defense-only piece, and that’s where the real pressure now sits.
At his best in Oklahoma City, Dort gave the Thunder perimeter resistance, veteran steadiness, dependable 3-point shooting and rebounds from the guard spot. Those last two parts matter more than they usually get credit for, because they helped the lineup function at a higher level. Replacing that full package is a different challenge than simply replacing his toughest defensive possessions.
That’s why the Thunder’s first preseason game with the full rotation in play carried some weight, even if it’s only October. Against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, the young backcourt didn’t exactly announce itself as a finished solution.
Mitchell scored three points, grabbed two rebounds and handed out five assists while shooting 1 of 5 from the field. Wallace finished with seven points, three rebounds and six assists on 2 of 8 shooting. The two combined to play just over 35 minutes.
It’s preseason, and some uneven play comes with the territory, especially when a championship-caliber team is sorting through major roster turnover. Still, the Thunder are counting on both players to take on bigger roles almost right away if this group is going to hit its stride in 2026-27.
Wallace has already emerged as one of the league’s more disruptive perimeter defenders, and Mitchell’s on-ball skill set gives Oklahoma City something different offensively. There’s also real shooting upside with both guards. Wallace hit 35.1% of his 3s last season, while Mitchell finished at 34.7%.
The problem is that Dort brought more than upside. He brought proof.
He averaged four or more rebounds per game in three of his final five seasons with the Thunder, and that mattered even with a frontcourt that soaked up plenty of the work inside. Wallace and Mitchell both averaged more than three rebounds last season, but neither has Dort’s size or strength, and that changes the feel of the backcourt.
So yes, Oklahoma City may ultimately be better off with Wallace and Mitchell handling the bulk of the minutes next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But expecting that handoff to look clean from the start ignores just how much Dort actually covered for this team when he was at his peak.
In Other News...
Aday Mara Might Unlock A New Side Of Shais Game
Aday Mara has looked like the kind of rookie who can change the shape of a possession before the Thunder even get into their half-court offense. His preseason work has given Oklahoma City another vertical target, and in a system that already rewards spacing and quick decisions, that sort of presence can matter. For a team built around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's ability to bend defenses, a lob threat like Mara opens up a different layer of pressure on the rim.
The bigger ripple could be in how Gilgeous-Alexander is able to create for others this season. If Mara continues to give the Thunder a reliable finishing option around the basket, it could help push SGA into more playmaking chances and raise his assist output. And he is not the only rookie benefiting from the way Gilgeous-Alexander draws attention, with Bennett Stirtz also finding room to adapt in preseason while working more off the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Two-Way Players Just Got A Real Roster Spot Audition
The preseason trip to Atlanta is shaping up as a real opportunity for Oklahoma Citys two-way group, with Brooks Barnhizer, Otega Oweh and Josh Dix all set to see extended run against the Hawks. With the Thunder choosing to keep most of their regular rotation in Oklahoma City, the game opens the door for younger players to handle bigger roles than they normally would in a preseason setting.
For Barnhizer especially, the timing matters. He already has some momentum from his previous preseason work and now gets another chance to show he can translate that into something more permanent. For a roster that is still sorting out its final decisions, nights like this can carry extra weight, and the Thunders two-way players suddenly have a much clearer path to making their case. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Durant Had An Emotional Reaction To Russell Westbrooks Exit
Russell Westbrooks announcement that he was retiring from the NBA prompted a wave of reaction across the league, including from one of the most familiar voices in his career arc: Kevin Durant. Westbrook shared a reflective message as he closed the book on his playing days, and the response from former teammates and longtime peers showed just how much respect remains for the former MVP after a career that helped define an era in Oklahoma City and beyond.
Durant said he was sad to see Westbrook step away and praised what he accomplished over the years, while Zach Randolph offered the idea that Westbrook could still have more basketball ahead of him. For Thunder fans, it is another reminder of how tightly Westbrooks legacy remains tied to Oklahoma City, even as the conversation now shifts to what comes next and whether retirement is truly the final chapter. [Read more 🡒]