After being involved in a 2023 NBA Draft trade, Cason Wallace isn’t too happy about living in Oklahoma City for nine months of the year.
The Texan was on the verge of joining the Dallas Mavericks, but the team opted to acquire Derek Lively II in a trade. In the end, the move appears to have paid off for both parties.
“Oklahoma is definitely going to be OK,” Wallace said after the draft. “There’s not a lot to do, but it keeps me focused.”
The lack of distractions likely helped. Wallace had a great rookie season in Oklahoma City. He was a key part of the team’s rotation and an unofficial sixth starter when someone else was out.
The 20-year-old averaged 6.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 49.1 percent shooting, while making 41.9 percent of his 3-point attempts on 2.3 attempts. He played a key role in OKC’s playoff run and was named to the All-Rookie Second Team.
In his exit interview, a relaxed Wallace jokingly apologized for his previous opinions of Oklahoma. The former Kentucky guard said his time in Oklahoma City changed his perspective on the state.
“Well, I owe the world an apology, let me just say that,” Wallace joked. “When I did my first press conference, I felt like there wasn’t much to do here. But there’s a lot to do here.”
If Wallace continues to develop as he has since joining the Thunder, there’s a good chance he’ll have plenty of time in Oklahoma City, as the 20-year-old has the potential to be a quality 3-point and defensive starter.
Wallace joins a long list of lottery-caliber draft picks the Thunder have had, and they’ll have another chance to add to that list with the 12th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
