For those longingly waiting for an agreement to be reached on a new, long-term deal between the OKC Thunder and Cason Wallace, patience may only need to be tested a little longer.
That's what Marc Stein is currently suggesting, anyway, as the NBA insider revealed in a recent intel drop that Wallace is considered one of the "strongest candidates" to secure a contract among his extension-eligible 2023 NBA Draft classmates. According to his sources, he could wind up signing one "in coming days."
As things currently stand, only four players from his class have inked new extensions, the most notable being Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who put pen to paper on a five-year, $252 million max back in early July, while the most recent is Keyonte George, who landed a lucrative five-year, $157.5 million deal.
The latter is roughly the kind of payday Wallace should be looking to net himself.
The deadline for both parties to come to an agreement is October 19, the day before their opening-night tip-off against San Antonio. Of course, per Stein's sources, one could come a lot sooner for Wallace and the Thunder.
Ajay Mitchell will presumably get first crack as Thunder starter
Regardless of whether or not he inks a new deal this summer, many are under the impression that Wallace is quietly in a battle with Ajay Mitchell for the now-vacant starting shooting guard position, what with the departure of Lu Dort.
Unfortunately for him, it seems Mitchell is now set to be tested in the first five rotation right out of the gate to start the preseason.
Monday, coach Mark Daigneault announced that a number of core Thunder players, including Wallace, will be inactive for their opening exhibition against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Considering he, along with Isaiah Hartenstein, will be the only player available who averaged 20 or more minutes per game last season, and was often used as a starter when the club was severely undermanned, it should be expected that Mitchell will be inserted into the starting unit against NOLA.
Mitchell started a total of 23 games between the regular season and playoffs last year, and was even seen dropping a ridiculous 18.4 points, 4.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game in such a role throughout OKC's three-round postseason run, and even wound up leading all eligible players in plus-minus at plus-14.6.
Combined, the Thunder went a whopping 22-1 in such contests.
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