Cason Wallace sets an encouraging high bar for his NBA career

Oklahoma City Thunder 2023 first-round pick Cason Wallace recently elaborated on some big career aspirations. That includes; becoming a multi-time All-Star, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors, and ultimately becoming a household name.

These are all excellent personal achievements to strive towards. Perhaps, Wallace will get his first big opportunity early in his young career in the NBA’s first In-Season Tournament.

Head coach Mark Daigneault has shown he is pretty flexible with his rotations, so there will undoubtedly be moments when Wallace will crack the rotation. Given OKC’s logjam at the guard position, there will be opportunities for OKC’s starting backcourt to get some in-game rest while also giving Cason Wallace a chance to run the floor.

Because this will be the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, it is still being determined how Mark Daigneault will approach the event. Will the OKC Thunder aim to win the first-ever tournament or use the event to showcase young talents, such as Wallace and some of the other Thunder rookies and sophomores?

Cason Wallace’s most likely role this season, barring something unforeseen — a trade or an unfortunate injury — will be as the sixth man, at best. With how the Thunder shuffles their rotation, there could be nights where the Thunder do not get Wallace minutes, or he might even spend time with the OKC Blue. How his role takes shape will be interesting to watch.

He will be a rookie on a team that is coming off its first appearance in the Play-In Tournament, and the Thunder are only aiming to improve on last season’s success. Sam Presti stated during this rebuild that the OKC Thunder do not want just a playoff appearance; the franchise wants an “arrival.”

Cason Wallace has all the talent and skills to be part of that and will get his first chance when Training camp opens in roughly two months—followed by the preseason close behind, where we will get a first look at Cason Wallace soon enough.