In the aftermath of the recent trades this offseason, it seems the Oklahoma City Thunder may have to change their starting lineup. With Lu Dort gone, they’ve likely found an open slot for a budding Cason Wallace.
Wallace has been one of the solid talents coming off of OKC’s bench, but many believe he could be next in line for a promotion to the first five. He’s capable of succeeding on both ends of the floor, and this season may be his best chance to prove his worth.
Should Cason Wallace Start for OKC Next Season?
After spending three years with the Thunder, it’s also expected that Wallace will get a hefty extension soon. Following the Dort trade, the guard gets a big break to show he has what it takes to roll with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.
In fact, he already did, and now he deserves the full-time spot moving forward.
Wallace’s Breakout Season Is Loading Soon
Wallace is one of the few players on the Thunder who has played more than 50 games in his entire career. His durability means a lot, especially after playing 82 games as a rookie and then 77 the previous season, when he arguably played his best.
Averaging 8.6 points, 2.6 assists, and a league-leading 1.9 steals, Wallace has definitely improved by his standards. His level of play has become phenomenal, especially in OKC’s playoff run that fell short in the Western Conference Finals. Not to mention, he was superb in the series-ending Game 7.
Cason Wallace 26-27 stat prediction:
16.8 PPG
4.2 RPG
3.4 APG
2.6 SPG
60/35/80 splitsAll Star pic.twitter.com/swwyNQiRQI
— CasoMuse (@CasoMuse) July 23, 2026
Dort’s presence was the biggest roadblock that prevented Wallace from ever shining at his full potential. At just 22 years old, he’s benefited from having notable veteran defenders like Dort and Alex Caruso teach him all he needs to know. If he gets the starting nod, Wallace will flourish with the opportunity.
OKC Has Other Decent Options
Speaking of having a chance, the Thunder are still great when it comes to depth. Jared McCain was a huge revelation despite coming in at the deadline. With Isaiah Joe traded, he takes the three-point specialist role for the team, and maybe even more — as he has a strong potential to start as well.
Then there’s Ajay Mitchell, who has been on quite the run after an injury-riddled season. Had it not been for his woes, the Santa Barbara product may have won the Sixth Man of the Year award. Considering how he torched the Lakers in the playoffs, he’d clearly impact the starting lineup if given the chance.
OKC now has lost 3 rotation players from last year
It opens the pathway for Ajay, Cason, McCain to be fully unleashed, but also gives them realistic pathways to get their 3 rookies time to actually play minutes & get run midseason
You’re basically betting on addition through…
— Gur Singh (@HoopFocusX) July 19, 2026
Then again, perhaps because Wallace has been with the team the longest, he ultimately deserves to move up. OKC didn’t really improve on paper after removing Dort, Joe, and Aaron Wiggins and adding Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz. If anything, moving Wallace into the first unit would give new players a chance to shine off the bench, and him as a full-time starter.
Cason Wallace May Impress Better Than Most Fans Expect
One of the biggest things about Wallace is how he is way ahead of Dort when it comes to defensive impact and offensive value. The Thunder guard led the league in total steals last season — ahead of Dyson Daniels — and was clearly a snub in consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year. But what’s more important here is that he is also a very capable scorer in his own right.
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
While Wallace’s true productivity is yet to be seen, he’s clearly expected to bring more firepower to the Thunder on both ends of the floor. His defense is already respectable, and his offensive exploits make him a much better replacement for Dort heading into the season.
Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
