The Oklahoma City Thunder have had all the offense they've needed since getting healthy. With the return of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell, their offensive hierarchy has fallen back into place.
Although they've had just the 19th-best offensive rating in the league since Gilgeous-Alexander's return from an abdominal strain on Feb. 27, they've now won 10 games in a row on the shoulders of their swarming defense. For the purposes of defending the one-seed, this current version of the team should be more than enough.
But once the playoffs ultimately begin, the Thunder will need to depend upon their plethora of role players to help push the offense an echelon further. If Jalen Williams health and effectiveness remain questionable heading into the playoff run, the importance of their depth will be magnified.
Cason Wallace, who had a stretch of breakout offensive performances in late February, has largely been dormant on that end of the court since the team got back to full strength. But, if Oklahoma City enters the playoffs in their current state, they may need to awaken the sleeping giant— Wallace will need to find that aggressive mindset again.
Cason Wallace is the Thunder's secret offensive weapon
In just under two seasons in the NBA, Wallace has shown himself to be one of the premier disruptors and perimeter defenders in the league. Because of this, his relatively pedestrian offensive production has usually been cast to the wayside.
Through 67 games this season, Wallace is averaging 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting 33.9% from 3-point range. For Oklahoma City's usual purposes, this works perfectly. Wallace performs his role on the defensive end without being asked to operate outside of his realm offensively.
But with both Gilgeous-Alexander and Mitchell out in late February, Wallace showed what he was truly capable of. In a four-game stretch between Feb. 22 and Feb. 27, Wallace averaged 20 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists, knocking down 50% of his attempts from beyond the arc. He showed a willingness and an ability to turn the corner on defenders, collapsing the defense and either working his way to the rim or dishing it to one of the wing shooters.
In the nine games since that stretch, Wallace has finished with double-digit scoring only once.
The Thunder don't need Wallace to be a star on the offensive end. But they've seen what he's truly capable of. In the course of a long playoff run, someone will need to step up from the ranks of Oklahoma City's depth and have a monster set of games.
Wallace could very well be that piece when the time comes.