Cason Wallace's 150 Steals Meet a $1.9 Million Apron Problem in OKC

Photo: NBA.com. Cason Wallace, Oklahoma City Thunder guard.

Cason Wallace led the NBA with 150 steals last season, and six days before the deadline he still has no rookie-scale extension with the Thunder. Oklahoma City has until 5 p.m. Central on Monday, Oct. 19, and ESPN's Bobby Marks has the team $1.9 million over the second apron with year one of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's supermax on the books.

Where the talks sit

Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported on Oct. 11 that "talks between Wallace's camp and the Thunder, meanwhile, have begun in the $25 million range in annual average value." Marks put his own offer at five years and $145 million, starting at $25 million and rising to $33 million in the final season. He also estimated that a deal starting at $25 million would cost Oklahoma City about $150 million in additional luxury tax. Any extension would begin in 2027-28. If Monday passes with no deal, Wallace plays out his rookie contract and can hit restricted free agency next summer, with the Thunder holding the right to match any offer sheet.

Waiting until the final day is normal for this kind of deal. Of the 34 players who signed rookie extensions over the past three seasons, 17 did it on deadline day, per Marks. Since the start of the offseason, five players have signed rookie extensions: Victor Wembanyama, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, Keyonte George and Brandin Podziemski.

What the 150 steals say

Wallace averaged 1.9 steals in 26.6 minutes across 77 games. Dyson Daniels averaged 2.0 but finished one steal behind in 76 games. Per 36 minutes Wallace was at about 2.6.

Wallace made All-Defense for the first time, finished seventh in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and joined Daniels, Derrick White, Andrew Nembhard and Amen Thompson as the only guards to win Defensive Player of the Month over the past two seasons, per Marks.

The jumper sets the price

His jumper has been less consistent. His regular-season three-point percentage has gone 41.9, 35.6 and 35.1 over three seasons, per Basketball-Reference, with last year's mark on 3.7 attempts a game. He scored 8.6 points a night.

The playoff numbers moved. In 15 games he shot 48.4% from three and scored 8.6 a game again, this time with 2.1 steals. In Game 7 of the West finals on May 30, with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell out, Wallace scored 17 next to Gilgeous-Alexander's 35. San Antonio still won the game and the series.

The Dort trade already said a lot

On July 19 the Thunder sent Lu Dort to Atlanta in a three-team trade that returned three second-round picks. Sam Presti said before training camp, "I think the greatest sign of respect we could have shown Cason is moving Lu [Dort] in that trade." He described the message to Wallace as "We believe in you as a player." Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe were also traded this offseason.

Wallace started 58 of his 77 games last season with Dort still on the roster. This year Dort is in Atlanta. The Thunder made that choice in July. The extension decides whether they pay him now or in restricted free agency.

The comps on the table

Hoops Rumors, citing Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, framed Wallace's likely range between Daniels at $25 million a year and Ausar Thompson at about $31 million a year. One league source told Siegel that multiple teams would be willing to offer Wallace $30 million a year or more if he reached restricted free agency. Marks argued Wallace has a case for more guaranteed money than George or Ausar Thompson, then added that Oklahoma City is in a different financial bracket than Utah and Detroit. The Thunder are paying a supermax and sitting above the second apron.

If nothing lands by 5 p.m. Monday, the Thunder carry the league's steals leader into a contract year and keep the right to match whatever offer he signs next summer.

Sources

• ESPN via ABC7: Bobby Marks, Which NBA deals will get done?. Oct. 13, 2026. Deadline Monday. 17 of 34 rookie extensions in the past three seasons signed on deadline day. Five rookie extensions signed this offseason. Wallace All-Defense, seventh in DPOY, Defensive Player of the Month company. Presti quotes on Dort. OKC $1.9 million over the second apron with SGA supermax year one. $25 million start adds about $150 million in tax. Marks offer five years, $145 million ($25M to $33M). Dort, Wiggins, Joe trades.
• Hoops Rumors: NBA roster, contract deadlines to watch in October. Deadline 5 p.m. Central, Oct. 19.
• Hoops Rumors: Extension notes, Miller, Wallace, Towns, Davis. Oct. 6, 2026. Siegel range between Daniels ($25M a year) and Ausar Thompson ($31M a year). League source to Siegel: multiple teams would offer $30M a year or more in restricted free agency.
• Thunder Wire: Rumor, Cason Wallace's contract extension with OKC to start at $25M per year. Oct. 11, 2026. Quotes The Stein Line on talks beginning in the $25 million range.
• Jake Fischer on X and Marc Stein on X. Oct. 11-12, 2026. Late Night NBA Intel on rookie-scale talks.
• Basketball-Reference: Cason Wallace. 2025-26: 77 games, 58 starts, 26.6 minutes, 8.6 points, 1.9 steals, 35.1% from three. Three-point history 41.9, 35.6, 35.1. 2026 playoffs: 15 games, 8.6 points, 2.1 steals, 48.4% from three.
• StatMuse: Most steals in the NBA, 2025-26. Wallace 150 in 77 games, Daniels 149 in 76 games at 2.0 a game. Wallace 3.7 three-point attempts a game, 2,046 minutes.
• NBA.com: Spurs hold off Thunder, advance to NBA Finals. May 30, 2026. Wallace 17, Gilgeous-Alexander 35, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell out.
• Hoops Rumors: Dort to Hawks, Risacher to Mavericks in three-team trade. July 19, 2026. Three second-round picks to OKC.
• Oklahoma City Thunder: Holmgren and Wallace named to 2025-26 All-Defensive Team. May 22, 2026.