4. Cason Wallace
As Caruso’s second half in the Cookies and Cream duo, Cason Wallace is another player to watch out for. We all know how he’s leading the steals department this season. His raging game is highly underrated. At one point, some considered him for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Had it not been for Wemby and Chet’s antics, Wallace may have been at the top of that list. His ability to wreak havoc on defense is a boon for OKC. The fact that he’s still young makes it even better, meaning he can improve a lot of things in his game.
Cason Wallace, guaranteed to give ball handlers a really REALLY unplesent evening…
Non-stop low-mistake pressure defense wins titles. Cason executes that at the highest level. pic.twitter.com/uOU72H8aN6
— Basketball University (@UofBasketball) March 23, 2026
What his defense provides can also be seen on the other side. He turns opponents’ mistakes into easy buckets. The fact that Wallace can sprint for a layup is quite promising. His offensive capabilities are the cherry on top of his strong defense, which the Thunder value. Considering how he’s grown year after year, it’s easy to expect him to thrive again.
5. Jared McCain
After coming to Oklahoma City at the trade deadline, Jared McCain continues to prove his worth. A meager reserve in Philadelphia turning into a productive scorer in OKC was not in anyone’s cards. Just like Joe, McCain is one of the Thunder’s prolific shooters. Since moving to the Thunder, he has been averaging 10.7 points in 25 games, along with a massive 40.2% shooting from three.
McCain is showing why he has more value than most people think. Some critics even recognize him as another trade steal for the Thunder, much like how SGA and Caruso have been so far.
JARED MCCAIN DOES THIS pic.twitter.com/Mp6nQ2vHS3
— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) March 15, 2026
McCain’s ability to shoot is undoubtedly big for the defending champs. He’s playing the most minutes of his career at 18.2 minutes per game, rivaling his rookie season. The Thunder’s need for a spot-up shooter (aside from Joe) is met through him. McCain is also good at slashing through the paint — with or without the ball. That makes the rest of the team’s jobs easier and more flexible. If anything, McCain is showing why he deserves minutes and how much more trust Daigneault is putting in him moving forward.
