OKC Thunder: What Can be Expected of Cason Wallace in the Postseason?

The Thunder rookie has played a pivotal role for one of the best teams in the Western Conference all season, but how might his role look in the playoffs?

Apr 7, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) / Scott Kinser-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City has again struck gold in the draft with a rookie that complements virtually any rotation the Thunder has on the floor, and he's been consistent all season long.

As the 10th selection in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks and subsequently shipped off to Oklahoma City, Cason Wallace has a found a true home on a contender with a vital role as just a 20-year-old rookie.

A lockdown on-ball and perimeter defender, adept rim runner and efficient 3-point shooter with minimal usage, Wallace holds down the fort in many aspects while not obstructing the natural motion of the Thunder's free-flowing offense.

He's a rookie whose impact might not always be reflected in the stat sheet, and those are the types of players who help you reach that contending level alongside a team's star players.

This season, Wallace has earned many spot starts, 13 being precise, and has remained the Thunder's sixth man alongside Isaiah Joe for the entirety of the season in 20.7 minutes while competing in every game on the year. Veteran Gordon Hayward has slowly been getting acclimated to this Oklahoma City team and has since seen a strong performance a couple nights back.

Hayward might get the nod in specific situations come playoff time due to his experience of 29 games played in the playoffs, but it's difficult to see that retracting too much from Wallace's time on the floor.

Wallace's role in the postseason will be one of really great importance despite his age, especially if matched up against wing-heavy teams like Phoenix and New Orleans where his on-ball pressure and grounded defense will be greatly needed.

He won't be providing great numbers in the scoring column, of course, but he'll be looked at to hit open threes on the kickout as he has seen all season. His value in the regular season will directly translate to playoff play, as his low-risk, high-reward play style is easy to plug and play while Mark Daigneault completely trusts his reliability. There will inevitably be some young-minded mistakes, but expect Wallace to be cemented in this team's playoff rotation as Oklahoma City lands its first playoff series since 2019-20.

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