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AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 2h ago
What Does Cason Wallace Need To Work On Now That His Role Will Expand?
Cason Wallace has already checked one of the hardest boxes for a young NBA player.
He’s earned trust.
Mark Daigneault trusts him to guard the opposing team’s best perimeter scorer. His teammates trust him to make the right play. Thunder fans trust that whenever he’s on the floor, good things are probably going to happen.
With Oklahoma City’s roster looking different than it did a year ago, Wallace is in line for a larger role than he’s ever had. That means more minutes, more touches and, perhaps most importantly, more responsibility on the offensive end.
He’s already proven he can be an elite defender. The biggest question this offseason is whether he can become a more consistent offensive creator.
Wallace has flashed that ability before. There have been stretches where he’s confidently attacked the basket, knocked down pull-up jumpers and looked comfortable running the offense.
The talent has never been the issue. It’s simply been a matter of opportunity. When you’re sharing the floor with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, there aren’t always a lot of possessions left over.
That could and should change this season.
As his role expands, the Thunder will need Wallace to do more than space the floor and make the extra pass. They’ll need him to attack closeouts, create shots off the dribble and punish defenses that focus all their attention on Oklahoma City’s stars.
That’s why improving his ball handling and shot creation should be at the top of his offseason checklist.
The Thunder don’t need Wallace to suddenly become a high volume scorer. They just need him to be a player defenses have to respect more when the ball is in his hands. If he can consistently beat his defender, get into the paint and either finish or create for teammates, it adds another layer to an offense that was already one of the league’s best.
Becoming more aggressive would help also.
There have been plenty of nights where Wallace looked content to let the game come to him, just like mostly everyone else on the roster. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s part of what makes him such an efficient player and the Thunder so good.
But with a bigger role comes the expectation that he’ll look for his own offense a little more often. The Thunder aren’t asking him to force shots. They’re asking him to capitalize on the opportunities that are already there.
Adding strength should also be a priority. A stronger frame will help him absorb contact at the rim while making it easier to defend bigger guards and wings, something he’ll likely be asked to do even more this season.
The scary part for the rest of the NBA is that Wallace doesn’t have to overhaul his game. He already does so many things at a high level. This offseason is about polishing the skills that can take him from an elite role player to a player capable of making a real impact on both ends every single night.
If he takes that step, his expanded role won’t just benefit him. It could make an already loaded Thunder team even tougher to beat.
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