After the Thunder’s recent cost-cutting reshuffle sent Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Luguentz Dort out in three separate moves, Cason Wallace looks like one of the clearest beneficiaries. Rylan Stiles of SI.com reports that the guard is expected to take on a bigger offensive load in his fourth NBA season.
Wallace is eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason, and he already hinted at the kind of stretch that made the case for more responsibility. At his end-of-season press conference in May, he pointed to a late-February run when injuries opened up more on-ball chances in the backcourt.
“ That was a fun point in time. That was fun, having the ball and just being able to showcase my game and just do what the team needed me to do to win,” Wallace said. “ That’s what it’s all about at the end of the day is just going out there and trying to win, so I look at those clips and think about that.”
Stiles sees the appeal of Wallace growing as a creator, but he says the more realistic step forward is sharpening the jumper. The 22-year-old was a 41.9% three-point shooter as a rookie, then slipped to 35.6% in his second season and 35.1% last year.
Elsewhere in the Northwest, Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman made the case that Dort should one day have his No. 5 jersey retired by Oklahoma City. Carlson noted that Nick Collison is the lone former Thunder player to receive that honor so far, and argued that Dort’s seven seasons with the franchise were “more impactful” than Collison’s 10.
On the Utah side, Sarah Todd of The Deseret News wrote in a mailbag that the Jazz should at least be viewed as a play-in team in 2026/27. Todd acknowledged that it’s tough to project how the roster’s new pieces will fit together - Jaren Jackson Jr. appeared in only two games after being acquired in February, and No. 2 overall pick Darryn Peterson is just starting his rookie year - but said Utah “had to really work to lose games” in the past and should be more competitive going forward.
Todd also addressed questions about potential star-trade pursuits and who will handle the offense in ’26/27. Her expectation is that Keyonte George will serve as the team’s primary ball-handler, though she added that head coach Will Hardy often leans on multiple players to initiate the offense.
In Other News...
Jazz Still Have One Roster Decision Left This Offseason
The Jazz have filled all 15 roster spots after signing Mo Bamba to a two-year deal, but the move still leaves them with a little late-summer flexibility. Because the roster is full, any further addition would require a corresponding move, and Utah still has room to reshuffle things before opening night if the right opportunity comes along.
One name worth watching is Kevin Love, who spent part of last season with the Jazz and remains on the free-agent market. If Utah decides it wants to add another veteran before camp breaks, the path is there, but it will likely depend on whether the front office wants to keep the current group intact or create a little space for a different fit. [Read more 🡒]
Walker Kessler Trade Could Leave Lakers Facing Another Tough Choice
The Walker Kessler trade gave the Lakers a long-term answer in the middle, but it also added another layer of pressure on how they shape the rest of the roster. Utah walked away with four first-round draft assets, while the Lakers suddenly had to consider how Kessler fits alongside their existing pieces and whether the move changes the balance of what they can realistically keep around him.
Zach Lowe raised the possibility that Los Angeles could be boxed in by the deal, with the kind of roster crunch that eventually forces uncomfortable choices. Austin Reaves has come up in that conversation, though Utahs own stance is different now than it might have been before, given the young guards already in place. For the Jazz, it is a reminder that one trade can ripple well beyond the player they sent out, especially when the other team may still be searching for the next move. [Read more 🡒]
Lauri Markkanen's Hold On The Jazz Offense May Not Last
Heading into the 2026-27 NBA season, Lauri Markkanen still looks like the safest bet to lead Utah in scoring, and that says plenty about both his role and where the Jazz are in their rebuild. He has paced the team in points for the past four seasons, and even with a new wave of young talent around him, the oddsmakers still see him as the offenses established anchor.
But the longer view is harder to pin down. Keyonte George, Ace Bailey and Darryn Peterson give Utah a younger core with real scoring upside, and as they keep developing, Markkanens grip on the top spot may not be as secure as it has been. For a Jazz team trying to sort out its future, the question is not just who leads the offense now, but how long that hierarchy can hold. [Read more 🡒]