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oct 19 2026The Oklahoma City Thunder have locked up another young star. The franchise has agreed to a five-year, $139 million contract extension with Cason Wallace, worth approximately $27.8 million per year, according to Shams Charania on ESPN citing the player's agents. The deal comes just one day before the season opener, precisely in San Antonio against the Spurs who eliminated them in last year's Western Conference Finals.
The extension rewards one of the league's best perimeter defenders. The 22-year-old Wallace, the 10th pick in the 2023 draft, was selected to the NBA's All-Defensive Second Team last season and led the league in total steals with 150. On the offensive end, he also took a step forward, posting career-highs in points (8.6) and assists (2.6) per game.
The Dort Replacement
The commitment to Wallace largely explains one of Oklahoma City's offseason moves: the trade of Luguentz Dort to the Atlanta Hawks, a deal also designed to reduce costs. Thunder general manager Sam Presti made clear before the preseason what that move signified. "Cason is someone we hold in very high regard and who has done great work for us," he explained. For Presti, Dort's departure was a vote of confidence in the young shooting guard, who inherits the role of perimeter defensive specialist.
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An Increasingly Expensive Roster
Continuity comes at a price. With Wallace re-signed, 13 of the Thunder's 14 current roster players are under contract through the 2027-28 season. According to Bobby Marks' projections on ESPN, the Thunder could find themselves approximately $26 million above the second apron that season, with a luxury tax bill exceeding $200 million. It's the cost of maintaining the core that has made Oklahoma City one of the West's elite, and which this year will also include Spanish player Aday Mara.
