We're halfway through September. That means the 2026-27 regular season is right around the corner. Soon, the NBA will return to being at the forefront of the sports zeitgeist with summer behind us. The nine-month marathon will see if the Oklahoma City Thunder can bring home a second NBA championship.
After a summer filled with cost-cutting moves, the Thunder remain one of the title favorites. I guess that's what happens when you have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams as your franchise pillars. Recent success backs it up, too.
To prepare for the 2026-27 season, Thunder Wire rolled out the projected depth chart for each position. Let's look at shooting guard:
Starter: Cason Wallace
The Thunder have rolled out the red carpet. After trading Lu Dort,
Wallace is expected to be promoted as a full-time starter. In his first three seasons, he was the unofficial sixth starter — always filling in for whoever was out. The 22-year-old enjoyed a breakout year as a first-time All-Defense member. Expect him to take the brunt of the opposition's top perimeter scorers. He'll also get plenty of opportunities to grow as an offensive player. He's a prime candidate to be OKC's Most Improved Player. Everything is set up for him.
Depth: Alex Caruso, Jared McCain, Bennett Stirtz, Josh Dix (two-way)
In what is arguably OKC's deepest position, Caruso and McCain are behind him. We know what the former is. The two-time NBA champion is one of the best role players in the league. And his regular-season maintenance has been well worth it with awesome NBA playoff runs. He's one of the best defenders of his era. And then McCain is ready to take on a bigger role. Last year's mid-season acquisition didn't take long to help the Thunder. His scoring punch has been a much-needed element on their bench. Now, he fills that role with Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins gone. Elsewhere, Stirtz and Dix are rookies. Safe to assume Stirtz will have a larger impact next year. He's viewed as an offensive talent. His shooting and playmaking are what stand out.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: OKC Thunder shooting guard preview: Cason Wallace, bench unit
