In a perfect world, the OKC Thunder would hold onto their trio of All-Stars as well as all their beloved running mates and vie for dynastic supremecy over the next decade and change as a consistent unit.
Sadly, with the new CBA in place, we now live in an era of the game that's heavily influenced by crippling tax penalties.
As things currently stand, Oklahoma City finds itself on pace to exceed the dreaded second apron threshold in 2026-27, which, in turn, will force the front office to make some rash, fiscally-driven decisions this summer to duck under it.
One of said decisions is whether to re-sign promising youngster Cason Wallace, who'll be eligible to sign a new multi-year extension come the offseason.
Considering his rising stock (and, with that, expected asking price), coupled with the Thunder's already limited financial flexibility, there's a somewhat possible chance Sam Presti and company may be forced to offload the point guard in some sort of trade simply to take better control of their books for the long-term.
In the unfortunate scenario where this hypothetical actually becomes a reality, there's really only one team OKC should consider striking a deal with.
Jazz perfect partner for Thunder in hypothetical Cason Wallace trade
In the event that the Thunder move on from Wallace, they'll presumably be looking to get a healthy amount of draft capital back in return for his services.
The Jazz are not only a team that could use a new franchise one-guard, but they're also flush with the capital necessary to entice even the historically trepidatious Sam Presti to make a move.
With a core of Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., Walker Kessler, Keyonte George, and Ace Bailey in tow, Utah seems to have the makings of a team looking to win in the not-too-distant future.
A rising two-way star like Wallace may be viewed as an ideal target to fit in as lead guard, especially considering he already has ample experience running alongside established stars and winning in such a situation.
At this past trade deadline, top-billed executive Dany Ainge coughed up three future firsts for the former Defensive Player of the Year in Jackson, and still has a whopping 11 more coming his way over the next decade (tied for the sixth-most in the association).
For the chance to nab a 22-year-old who's often been compared to All-Stars like Jrue Holiday and has yet to even sniff his prime, perhaps they'd be willing to cough up a similar package for Wallace.
Though trying to shed the cap space necessary to hold onto the third-year guard should be priority number one for the Thunder this summer, receiving a bevy of picks for his services would be far from the worst consolation prize, and the Jazz might just be the team willing to offer exactly that.