One of the last potential pieces of business continues to linger for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The offseason is all but over. But the title favorite still has the chance to lock down a key role player for the foreseeable future. If they can financially stomach it.
In his 2026-27 preseason press conference, Sam Presti addressed OKC's ongoing contract negotiations with Cason Wallace. He's been eligible for a new deal all summer. Fresh off a breakout third year, the 22-year-old is projected to take an even larger leap this upcoming year.
In terms of whether the Thunder could get a deal done before the Oct. 19 deadline, Presti — as usual — kept his cards close to the vest. Wallace is part of a stacked 2023 NBA draft class that has seldom seen megasized
contracts done this summer.
"I don't want to speak definitively about those things," Presti said. "I would just say Cason is someone we think very highly of and has done a great job for us."
We're pretty deep in the offseason. To the point that Media Day is just three days away. But the Thunder have to figure something out with Wallace. He's too important to their success and remainder part of their current championship window. Since he arrived, he's been a key piece and has helped OKC win the 2025 NBA championship.
That said, we're amid an old-school contract negotiation. Both sides have their arguments. The Thunder likely want Wallace's annual salary to be in the $20-to-$28 million range. Meanwhile, Wallace feels like he could earn $30-plus million per year. Especially if he takes the offensive leap that most think he will in his fourth season.
It makes for an interesting dynamic where one side has to eventually cater to the other. Think the Thunder and Wallace both want something agreed upon before Opening Night. Neither wants to punt this thing into the next offseason. Where there is just so much more risk involved with restricted free agency.
There should be some level of urgency from both sides. The last thing the Thunder need is for Wallace's uncertain long-term future hanging over them like a cloud. If OKC hopes to win a second NBA championship in three years, it needs everybody on the same page and pulling the rope in the same direction.
"I think the greatest sign of respect we could have shown Cason is moving Lu in that trade," Presti said. "We potentially could have looked at a series of other options, but it's a bit of a gesture to him to say, 'We think you can have a great role on this team. We believe in you as a player. And we're hopeful that all that can work out.'"
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Sam Presti addresses ongoing contract negotiations with Cason Wallace
