The Oklahoma City Thunder sent a message to the league on Sunday night, handily defeating the Denver Nuggets in spite of their lingering injuries.
They won the game 121-111, but the win felt like it was secured essentially from the onset of the second half. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was absolutely dominant, posting 34 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the floor. Chet Holmgren continued to show why he earned an All-Star bid, amassing three impressive blocks (although his shooting wasn't very efficient).
Yet one player, third-year guard Cason Wallace, sent a message to the team that can't be ignored. He's becoming increasingly valuable for Oklahoma City, and they're is going to need to pay up when his time for an extension comes.
Cason Wallace is the Thunder's most valuable two-way player
Wallace was absolutely immaculate on Sunday night. He posted a career-high 27 points, coupling that with six rebounds and two steals. He was undeniable from the perimeter, sinking seven of his 11 shots from beyond the arc.
It's the most impressive offensive performance Wallace has had this season, and it is possibly the most impressive he's had in his career.
Wallace has already established himself as an exceedingly disruptive presence on the defensive end of the court. He's averaging a league-leading two steals this season, and he is continuously impactful in disrupting passing lanes and guarding the other team's best players on-ball.
Yet, for much of his career, his offensive performance has lagged behind. Even this season, he's averaging just 7.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and two assists while shooting 37.3% from 3-point range. For a player with his defensive impact, this is palatable.
But if his performance against Denver was a sign of an explosive ceiling, Oklahoma City could have an extremely valuable player on their hands.
Their immediate financial concerns revolve around club optons for Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, and Kenrich Williams this offseason. They will need to make some tough choices about who to bring back with Jalen Williams' contract extension kicking in next year.
Yet Wallace will also be eligible for his rookie extension this offseason. The team must think of him as ther long-term starter at shooting guard, and his performance Sunday night showed exactly why.
If he can continue to stack impressive offensive performances together this season, the Thunder could be looking at a hefty paycheck for the Kentucky alum.
With his two-way impact, however, it will undoubtedly be worth it.