The Thunder have made another major commitment to the core that got them here.
Cason Wallace has agreed to a five-year, $139 million rookie-scale extension, according to ESPN. The deal arrived Sunday, just ahead of Monday’s extension deadline, and it keeps him in the same long-term picture as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.
Wallace has already earned his reputation on the defensive end. He picked up second-team All-Defense honors last season while averaging 1.9 steals, and his role is expected to expand after the offseason trade that sent Luguentz Dort to the Hawks, according to Derek Parker of Sports Illustrated.
“Critical extension for the Thunder to lock in Wallace ahead of restricted free agency next summer,” Charania wrote. “Now having their starting five all under contract for several years.”
The money is significant - the extension averages $27.8 million per year - and it adds to an already pricey roster. Oklahoma City is paying to preserve its defensive edge and betting that Wallace’s offense keeps moving forward.
The Thunder open Tuesday against the Spurs, the team that beat them in seven games last postseason.
In Memphis, Cameron Boozer is already drawing heavyweight praise before playing a regular-season NBA game.
Kevin Garnett, speaking with Zach Randolph and Tony Allen on KG Certified, lauded the Grizzlies rookie for his decision-making, defense and knack for production, as relayed by Ryan Kaminski of Sports Illustrated.
“He is really polished. And he plays defense too,” Garnett said.
Garnett said Boozer should be part of the Rookie of the Year conversation and floated the idea that he can grow into a 20-point, 10-rebound player. He also saw a little of Nikola Jokic in the way Boozer passes from the high post.
“He got a little Jokic in his game,” Garnett said. “He is a little more athletic, he will dunk you.”
That kind of hype lands before opening night, but Boozer’s preseason gave Memphis a glimpse of why Garnett sees so much potential. In four games, he averaged 14 points, nearly six rebounds and three assists while turning the ball over 1.5 times per game. He shot 47 percent from the field, 33 percent from three and 83 percent at the foul line.
It was still exhibition basketball, but the passing and ability to draw fouls stood out as traits the Grizzlies can build on beyond the scoring.
The Magic are dealing with a different kind of tension, and it has other teams watching closely.
Anthony Black’s extension talks have drawn outside attention as rival clubs wonder whether Orlando’s payroll could eventually push him onto the market. ESPN reported that teams are monitoring the situation ahead of Monday’s rookie-scale extension deadline, and the Magic have not been willing to meet the $22 million annual average that Brandin Podziemski got in his five-year, $110 million deal with the Warriors.
Black and Podziemski are both represented by Bill Duffy, which makes that contract an obvious benchmark in the negotiations, according to Matt Hanifan of Sports Illustrated.
Orlando’s financial picture explains why rival teams are paying attention. Windhorst reported the club is headed for roughly $32 million in luxury tax payments this season, and the Magic also have fewer draft assets after sending four first-round picks to the Grizzlies for Desmond Bane.
Still, interest from other teams does not mean Orlando is looking to move Black.
The 22-year-old averaged 15.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season and started 40 of his 64 games. His improved shot creation made him a useful part of the rotation, especially with Jalen Suggs battling injuries.
If the sides do not reach an extension, Black would be headed for restricted free agency next summer. For now, the Magic still have a productive young guard in place, even if the contract talks remain unresolved.
In Other News...
Magic Opening Night Picture Just Got Murkier After New Injury Concern
The Magics opening-night picture has already started to blur before the season even begins, with the roster still sorting through injuries and lineup questions in the final stretch of camp. Orlando is trying to build continuity around a group that still has a few moving parts, and the preseason has offered both encouragement and concern as the team inches toward its first meaningful game.
Noah Pendas setback only adds to that uncertainty, since the rookie had been part of the mix before going down in the preseason finale. Franz Wagner also left Friday with right shoulder soreness, while Jase Richardson is day-to-day with low back soreness, leaving the Magic with even more to monitor as they approach the opener and wait to see who is actually ready to go. [Read more 🡒]
Noah Penda Setback Suddenly Clouds Orlandos Second Unit Plans
Noah Penda had been lining up for a bigger share of the Orlando Magics second unit this season, a sign the club believed his second NBA campaign could bring a real step forward. Instead, his preseason took an abrupt turn in a game against the Miami Heat, when he left early after suffering a right hamstring injury that instantly complicated those plans.
The setback is especially frustrating because Penda had already worked through an earlier hamstring issue in training camp, and that problem had fully healed. Now Orlando has to sort through an uncertain timeline for a player it was counting on to add depth and energy, with the particulars of this latest injury adding another layer of concern to a rotation plan that had just started to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Black Just Put Real Pressure On The Magic Front Office
Anthony Black and the Magic have now hit the point where the easy part of the business has passed, and the hard part is staring Orlando in the face. With the Monday deadline looming, the two sides have not come to terms on a contract extension, which leaves restricted free agency in play next summer and adds another layer of pressure to a team already juggling cap concerns.
For the front office, the issue is not just keeping a young piece in the fold, but deciding how far to stretch financially for a player whose future is suddenly under a brighter spotlight. Around the league, other teams are paying close attention to see whether Orlando finds common ground or leaves the door open to trade conversations if no deal is reached. [Read more 🡒]