3 Thunder players whose future could be impacted by Cason Wallace’s extension

October 20, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

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The Oklahoma City Thunder signed Cason Wallace to a $139 million extension, securing his future ahead of the 2026-27 season. The five-year extension comes after the Thunder traded Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in the offseason, paving the way for Wallace to become a starting guard alongside All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Wallace, who started often for Jalen Williams last season, earned All-Defensive Second Team honors after leading the NBA in steals in 2025-26. Thunder GM Sam Presti also traded 3-point specialist Isaiah Joe to the Detroit Pistons and Aaron Wiggins to the Hawks as part of his cost-saving moves that kept Oklahoma City below the second apron.

With All-Star Chet Holmgren and Williams’ max deals hitting the books this season, and Gilgeous-Alexander’s extension kicking in for the 2027-28 campaign, which Thunder players will Presti part with ahead of Wallace’s new deal? The Thunder’s title-contending roster, alongside the defending Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs, made re-signing Cason a no-brainer.

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Cason Wallace’s extension with the Thunder avoids what would have been a bidding war for the All-Defensive guard, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

“This was critical because he’s part of that group of young players that, as you’re losing players like Lu Dort, you have to funnel in,” Charania said. “So, he’s going to be stepping into a new starting role in place of Lu Dort with this new contract. Now the Thunder have their starting 5, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Cason [Wallace], Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein, locked in for several more years.

“Wallace was going to have a robust restricted free agency market next summer. So they get him locked him in before that, and he wanted to be a Thunder. But this does put the OKC Thunder in position to be in the second apron next season.”

.@ShamsCharania's update on Cason Wallace agreeing to a 5-year, $139M extension with the Thunder ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/A4AZIr2sx4
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 19, 2026

Thunder GM Sam Presti could make the Thunder a second-apron team for the first time in 2027-28, then make another series of salary-saving moves ahead of the following season. However, failing to win a second championship in three years could change everything. If so, three Thunder players could be entering their final season in Oklahoma City.

Alex Caruso

Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Veteran guard Alex Caruso brought a championship pedigree to the Thunder’s backcourt in 2024. His invaluable 3-and-D approach set the standard for a young bench guard rotation. Caruso has provided much-needed support, helping OKC win its first championship in 2025. However, those young Thunder pups matured fast over the past two seasons.

Cason Wallace is stepping into Dort’s starting job alongside two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Ajay Mitchell earned a Sixth Man role last season, and third-year guard Jared McCain, entering his first full season with the Thunder, has adapted seamlessly. With enough depth to move on from Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins, Thunder GM Sam Presti could do the same with Caruso next summer.

The move would save the Thunder $20.9 million and could extend first-round pick Bennett Stirtz’s role ahead of the 2027-28 season.

Isaiah Hartenstein

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Veteran center Isaiah Hartenstein is one half of a devastating double-big lineup that has helped the Thunder become one of the NBA’s best defensive teams over the past two seasons. The defending Western Conference champion Spurs arrived in 2025-26. Although Hartenstein and the shorthanded Thunder, missing Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell, fell short in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, Isaiah earned a three-year, $75 million extension over the summer.

The Thunder’s pairing of 7-footers, All-Star Chet Holmgren and Hartenstein, will get another chance to take down the Spurs. However, back-to-back playoff exits could force Thunder GM Sam Presti to retool the starting lineup if rookie Aday Mara emerges as a starter. A 7-foot-3 center will certainly change the team’s outlook amid its rivalry with All-Star Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.

Winning a potential second championship in three years will make it more likely Presti enters the second apron for at least one season. Beyond that, it probably spells the end of Hartenstein’s tenure with the Thunder.

Chet Holmgren

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The second apron era is forcing teams to make tough decisions, like the Celtics trading 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown over the summer. Shocking trades like that will keep happening, and the Thunder could make a similar move soon.

Did Thunder GM Sam Presti just draft Aday Mara to replace Chet Holmgren? No, but that could be what ultimately happens. Mara had an impressive preseason, showcasing the 7-foot-3 center’s two-way abilities, with flashes of Pau Gasol on one end of the floor and Dikembe Mutombo on the other. The Thunder might have found the ideal center to counter Victor Wembanyama.

Holmgren’s consistent struggles against Wembanyama and the Spurs are the only reasons to predict the Thunder will part ways with their All-Star big, who finished runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year last season. Losing to the Spurs in back-to-back playoff series will undoubtedly raise questions about Holmgren’s future. A hypothetical third exit at the hands of the Spurs would seal Holmgren’s fate.

His max deal jumps from $41.2 million to $47.8 million in 2028-29, giving Mara enough time to develop into an everyday starter, which could happen sooner than expected. However, one breakout rookie season, coupled with back-to-back playoff exits against the Spurs, should at least encourage Presti to listen to trade offers for Holmgren in 2027.

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