Explaining the surprise omission to the OKC Thunder roster

The OKC Thunder released their 2023 NBA Summer League roster on Saturday evening. The roster is chock-full of interesting talent, from Chet Holmgren, Ousmane Dieng, Jalen Williams, and Jaylin Williams to Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Jared Butler, and Keyontae Johnson. Oklahoma City even includes former NBAers Jahmi’us Ramsey (who plays for the OKC Blue) and Zhaire Smith. Though, there is a glaring omission from the initial Oklahoma City Thunder Summer League roster, which has sent the fanbase into a frenzy.

The OKC Thunder 2023 NBA Summer League roster is chock full of talent, but a glaring omission has to be explained.

In the 2023 NBA Draft, the OKC Thunder were able to trade for the tenth overall pick in the draft in exchange for the 12th pick just by taking on Davis Bertans’ contract from the Dallas Mavericks. Given the nature of that Bertans contract, the trade between the Thunder and Mavericks can not be made official until July 6th. This means Kentucky guard Cason Wallace will not be eligible to join the Summer League roster until the deal is pushed through the league office.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are participating in two NBA Summer League sessions. The Thunder will play in Salt Lake City from July 3rd through the 6th before heading to Vegas with the rest of the league from the 7th through the 17th.

Cason Wallace will join the OKC Thunder Summer League roster on Friday as the squad heads to Vegas to play their first game of the Vegas session on Saturday, July 8th against the Dallas Mavericks. This matchup will pit the two prospects who were traded for each other against one another as Dereck Lively II has been placed on the Mavericks Summer League roster already (since they do not make their Summer debut until after the 6th once the trade will be official.