Way-too-early 2023 NBA Re-draft: Where do Scoot Henderson and Toumani Camara end up?
By Reese Kunz
No. 10: Oklahoma City Thunder select Cason Wallace
Original pick: Cason Wallace
The Oklahoma City Thunder have one of the best scouting departments in the NBA. And, in typical Thunder fashion, they got this pick right. Even in the re-draft, Cason Wallace remains the selection. And, in typical Kentucky Wildcats fashion, Wallace looks like another addition to their long list of guards who will have a long and successful career in the NBA.
As a rookie, Walalce only averaged 6.8 points and 1.5 assists per game. However, a significant factor was that Wallace was limited to 20.6 minutes as the up-and-coming Thunder team tied the Denver Nuggets for the best record in the Western Conference at 57-25. Oklahoma City already has its star trio in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.
They executed their rebuilding process close to perfection. Now, their next step is to continue adding complementary two-way pieces around that core. Wallace fits the bill as a 3-and-D guard who can provide playmaking when required. With SGA carrying so much of the offensive burden, Wallace is an ideal fit to be the lockdown defender who expends his energy on that side of the ball. It’s also a bonus that Wallace is such an efficient shooter at 41.9 percent from three.