Come the opening tip of the 2026-27 season, Cason Wallace will, in all likelihood, be the starting shooting guard in the Oklahoma City Thunder's backcourt next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
With Luguentz Dort off the roster after his trade to the Atlanta Hawks, the Thunder need someone with the same defensive tenacity—and the same complementary scoring skill set—to pair with their superstar. Although Wallace still has some work to do on the offensive end of the court, he's likely Oklahoma City's best perimeter defender and most trusted asset in that position.
Although head coach Mark Daigneault refused to outright name Wallace as the starter in his media day appearance on Monday, he just about admitted as much.
"[Wallace has] started a lot of games. I'm not going to get into any rotation stuff. But, you know, he started Finals games for us. He's somebody that I trust as much as anybody." Mark Daigneualt
And yet as clear a fit as Wallace is to take over Dort's role this season, there's room to argue that Ajay Mitchell would provide the Thunder with greater offensive upside on a game-to-game basis. Daigneault's unwillingness to name Wallace as the starter was likely just 'coach speak', but it does leave room to wonder.
Is there room for Mitchell and Wallace to share the starting opportunity depending on how the Thunder's needs unfold in 2026-27?
Cason Wallace will be the starter—but Ajay Mitchell should get some consideration over the course of the season as well
When everyone is healthy, here's what the Thunder's starting lineup will look like in 2026-27. Gilgeous-Alexander and Wallace will make up the backcourt, while Jalen Williams will pair in the froncourt with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein on a game-to-game basis.
Not only does Wallace slot in perfectly there as the perimeter shooting, defensive menace the Thunder have become accustomed to having next to Gilgeous-Alexander, but he also has ample starting experience. Wallace started 58 of his 77 games last season. With Jalen Williams missing extended time, Dort was able to slide up to the small forward spot while Wallace took over consistent backcourt duties. He averaged 9.3 points while shooting 36.4% from beyond the arc in the games he appeared in as a starter.
Based on his résumé and his defensive fit within the Thunder's scheme, Wallace has more than earned a true shot at a starting role.
But by the time the playoffs rolled around, Oklahoma City was clearly in need of more offensive juice, and Wallace only started two games over the course of their run. Mitchell started seven before he went down in the middle of the series against the San Antonio Spurs. Even Jared McCain started two games in that final series.
The fact of the matter is that there will be times, even during the regular season, where the Thunder need to lean on someone like Mitchell to help keep their offense afloat. Mitchell simply possesses a more dynamic, downhill skill set than Wallace can provide, and he has enough defensive capabilities to not cause a major deficit for the Thunder when he's paired with the rest of the starters.
To outright promise Wallace the full-time starting job before the season even begins would be foolhardy. This team's greatest weapon is its multiplicity and versatility, and although Wallace will get the bulk of the starting opportunities this season, don't count Mitchell out from getting his fair share of minutes next to Gilgeous-Alexander as well.
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