After several years of impeccable roster continuity, the Oklahoma City Thunder went through some serious changes this summer. They said goodbye to a handful of longtime role players in cost-cutting moves. They kicked the can down the road on a second-apron year, but sacrificed some of their depth to do so.
Welcome to the NBA's faux hard-cap world. This is the first of many summers to come where the Thunder feel that. You can't keep the same group of guys around forever. Especially if you're one of the league's deepest teams. The most notable exit from this past offseason? Lu Dort.
Dort spent seven seasons with the Thunder from 2019-26. He was a full-time starter for most of that time. But now that he's gone, his departure opens up a starting spot.
Who could start alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in OKC's backcourt? There are a couple of candidates. A few notable names were asked about it at the 2026-27 Thunder Media Day.
Per usual, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault kept things close to the vest. We likely won't know who's starting for the Thunder until 30 minutes before tip-off on Opening Night against the San Antonio Spurs. That said, he's not going to let preconceived notions determine his judgment. He's excited to see how Cason Wallace took advantage of the offseason as he embarks on a super-important fourth season.
"I really don't make any assumptions about that. They have a lot of autonomy in the summer. The reason they have autonomy is because they come back in shape and they always come back in shape. They come back better," Daigneault said. "He's come back in shape. He's come back better. He's worked hard this summer. He's got his head down and focused. You never know where that can go from and from my standpoint. I feel like if I try to steer that much with him or any other player, you could be putting up a ceiling."
While I appreciate and understand Daigneault's open-mindedness as an NBA head coach, there are really only two realistic candidates who could carry the baton from Dort. That's Wallace and Ajay Mitchell. Part of the reason why the Thunder were comfortable with shaving off some of their rich depth is the projection that those two key pieces will break out with additional opportunities.
The Thunder have rolled out the red carpet for Wallace and Mitchell. Both due contract extensions in the next calendar year, OKC is banking on them taking another leap. That said, starting doesn't necessarily equate to that happening. At their Media Day, they both said they're comfortable in whatever role is needed.
"It's not on the front of my mind, honestly," Wallace said. "First, we've got to get out there as a team and once we start gelling together, Mark changes the lineups here and there. Whenever he puts me out there, I'm going to put my best foot forward."
Wallace had been OKC's pseudo-sixth starter in his three seasons in the NBA. He's started in roughly half of his games at 114 of 227 career games — 50.2%. So if the Thunder are hoping for a seamless transition as he takes over Dort's previous responsibilities of defending the top perimeter scorers, he's the guy to go. Especially after a breakout year that saw him be a first-time All-Defensive member.
"He's started a lot of games. So I'm not going to get into any rotation stuff, but he's started Finals games for us," Daigneault said. "He's somebody that I trust as much as anybody."
On the flip side, Mitchell provides more upside. At least, offensively. He had a second-year breakout as a 14-point scorer. It didn't take long for him to establish himself as OKC's designated Sixth Man. That said, maybe he has an appetite for more? It'd be understandable, if so. But from his Media Day comments, that's not necessarily the case.
"My focus is to help this team win. I just want us to be the best team we can be," Mitchell said. "So it doesn't really matter — starter, coming off the bench. I don't really care."
That's honestly what you want to hear from all parties involved. Besides, I think we've reached a point in NBA discourse where starting doesn't matter as much as who closes games out. At least, the Thunder have been religious believers in that philosophy for years now.
That said, who OKC's fifth starter will be is one of the bigger training camp and preseason storylines. We won't know until the games start to matter, but the Thunder have a couple of salivating options who should have zero hiccups in superseding Dort and the rest who left.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Cason Wallace or Ajay Mitchell? Mark Daigneault noncommittal on OKC's 5th starter
