As peers secure massive paydays, all eyes turn to Oklahoma City’s defensive ace. Will the Thunder lock down their rising star before the extension deadline passes?
As the 2026-2027 NBA season inches ever closer to its long awaited tip off, there is one question lingering most heavily in the minds of Oklahoma City Thunder fans.
Who takes Lu Dort's spot in the starting lineup? No. Good question. But not the question.
Who takes the 15th and final roster spot? Once again, no. Once again, a good question. But still not the question.
Is Cason Wallace going to sign a contract extension? Ding ding. We have a winner.
While OKC fanatics have fun debating which bench player should get the big promotion to join Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein in the starting five, most everyone will ultimately be happy with Mark Daigneault's decision. As entertaining as it is to debate whether Otega Oweh will see his two way contract converted or the Thunder go into the season with only 14 players on the roster or whether the front office signs another player, that last spot isn't likely to affect the win loss column.
Signing the team's 22 year old Second Team All Defense selection to a long term deal, however, is one thing every Oklahoma City fan agrees is paramount.
That's why the news of two members of the 2023 NBA Draft class inking new deals over the weekend was noteworthy to the Thunder faithful. Keyonte George and Ausar Thompson joined Victor Wembanyama and Amen Thompson as the only members of the rookie extension eligible class to extend.
George signed a 5 year extension with the Utah Jazz worth $157.5 million. The scoring guard averaged 23.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.1 steals in 33.1 minutes per game last season. He shot 45.6% from the field, 37.1% from 3 point range and 89.2% from the free throw line.
Thompson signed a 5 year extension with the Detroit Pistons worth $155 million. The defensive guard averaged 9.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.0 steals in 26.0 minutes per game last season. He shot 52.5% from the field, 25% from 3 point range and 57.1% from the free throw line. Thompson was selected to the All Defense First Team and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind only Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren.
Now that two fellow guards from his draft class signed long term, Thunder fans are hoping that Wallace will be next. As far as using the George and Thompson contracts as measuring sticks to what we can expect from any Wallace deal, that's a complicated comparison. George is a top tier scorer, averaged nearly 24 points a game while being Utah's primary playmaker. Thompson finished only behind an alien and unicorn in DPOY voting while basically averaging double digits.
Wallace does not have the raw numbers of his 2023 peers who signed new deals over the weekend. But OKC fans know that his two way impact on winning via efficient offense and shutdown defense is a key cog in the Thunder's success.
And that's why every Thunder fan is holding their breath while holding their phones every time Shams Charania tweets, as they wait in anticipation for the answer to that question.
