Thunder Rumor: NBA Insider Says Cason Wallace Could Earn Up to $33 Million Per Year

Thunder rumor: According to an NBA insider, Cason Wallace could earn as much as $33 million per year.

An NBA insider believes that as the 2026-27 season approaches, a potential extension between Cason Wallace and the Thunder could reach an annual salary of $33 million.

Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti has made some difficult decisions to address the team's situation, and many people are wondering how he will handle Cason Wallace's extension before the October 19 deadline. This summer, Presti moved on from three Thunder veterans — Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins and Lu Dort. This opened the door for a Wallace extension, which many expect to be Oklahoma City's latest contract before the new season.

This summer, Presti re-signed Thunder starting center Isaiah Hartenstein to a three-year, $75 million contract, strengthening Oklahoma City's frontcourt. All-Stars Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are also expected to remain with the team for a long time in the future. For some, Hartenstein's new deal was excellent value compared with the salary he could have received on the open market.

However, as an important member of the Thunder's backcourt, especially after Dort's departure, would Wallace be willing to accept a similar pay cut for a team aiming to win its second championship in three years?

According to NBA insider Zach Lowe, after speaking with 10-15 NBA team executives, they were asked to compare Wallace with 2023 draft players who have not yet received extensions, including Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black and Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski. In the end, Wallace was unanimously viewed as the player most likely to receive the biggest raise among the three.

"It probably won't surprise you that Cason Wallace was unanimously ranked first among these three players by other team executives," Lowe said. "I did not text anyone from these teams. I did not want to put them in that position. Generally speaking, conservative estimates for his average annual salary are between $25 million and $33 million."

For Thunder guard Cason Wallace, an annual salary above $25 million is not as unreasonable as some might think. Considering the future potential of the fourth-year guard in Oklahoma City, it would be a worthwhile investment. The 22-year-old Wallace has shown impressive growth potential in recent years, developing from a 3-and-D player into one of the NBA's top on-ball defenders.

Although his scoring ability still needs improvement, as he averaged a career-high 8.4 points per game last season, that is not the main reason the Thunder value him despite the possibility of a future salary above $25 million per year. Wallace's biggest strength is his defense. He can effectively guard opposing elite guards, and he shot 37.4% from three-point range during his first three years in Oklahoma City, proving his value.

Last season, he was selected to an All-Defensive Team for the first time and ranked second in the 2026 steals rankings behind Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson. In the 2025-26 season, Wallace led the NBA with 150 steals and is expected to play a key role in the Thunder's starting lineup in the 2026-27 season alongside two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.