In this new era of crippling tax penalties, NBA teams are forced to make harsh decisions about how they choose to spend their money. For the OKC Thunder, next summer, they'll be met with the devastating choice of committing to either Lu Dort or Cason Wallace for the long haul -- not both.
In the 2026 offseason, the two guards will be eligible for contract negotiations. Considering Oklahoma City is currently beelining it to the second apron as is after their summer spending spree, the club will be forced to cut costs in any way they can to ultimately duck under said threshold, which, in turn, should spell trouble for the aforementioned talks.
To The Athletic's Sam Vecenie, this likely will mean them choosing between Dort or Wallace as a player to commit to for the future, as he stated on a recent edition of the Game Theory Podcast that, though both are more than worthy of being re-upped with, only one can fit into their books on a new multi-year deal.
"At the end of the day, they're going to have to pay one of Lu Dort or Cason Wallace $20 million a year. It's just, 'Ok, do we want to pay Lu or do we want to pay Cason?'," Vecenie said.
Thunder must choose between paying Lu Dort or Cason Wallace
Though Dort is technically already eligible to sign an extension this summer, as he's now beyond three years into his five-year, $82.5 million deal, Vecenie believes the Thunder will refrain from negotiations and, instead, let this upcoming campaign serve as a time for both him and Wallace to prove who's more worthy of being retained.
Frankly, the Senior Writer suggests that waiting may actually be beneficial for Dort, as he noted that the veteran could field offers north of $25 million per year on the open market if he were to wait to enter into free agency.
The idea of losing their homegrown, 3&D savant who has shot over 40.0 percent from distance on over 5.0 attempts per game over the last two years and just recently earned his first All-Defensive selection in 2024-25 is certainly gut-wrenching.
However, letting go of their lottery-selected talent in Wallace who, in just his second season, ranked ranked fifth in the league in total deflections, sixth in total steals, and placed within the 95th percentile in defensive estimated plus/minus while averaging 8.4 points on 47.4 percent shooting from the floor and 35.6 percent shooting from deep is equally as daunting.
To Vecenie, the ideal scenario for the Thunder would be that Wallace shows an eagerness to stay put beyond his rookie-scale contract, as he's younger than Dort (21 compared to 26) and, hopefully, can "extend his defensive prowess for a little bit longer."
That said, a lot can happen between now and next summer that could affect how Sam Presti and company's approach to this painful yet necessary decision between these two stud role players.