Thunder lose Williams and Wallace to season-ending injuries
General Manager Sam Presti confirmed surgeries for both guards, who will miss several months after the team's win over the Clippers.
By Charles Reed ·
Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti announced on Monday that starting guards Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace will miss several months due to injury. Both players were hurt during Sunday night's 108-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. The team is currently unbeaten with a 3-0 start.
Presti stated that Williams requires surgery for a dislocated left ankle and a fractured fibula. Wallace will undergo surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Williams was wheeled off the court on a stretcher late in the fourth quarter after a drive to the basket. Wallace left in the first quarter and did not return to the game.
The Thunder are facing a sharp drop in perimeter depth. Last season, Williams missed 49 regular-season games due to wrist and hamstring issues. He played in only five playoff games for 107 total minutes as the team lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals. Wallace signed a five-year, $139 million contract extension just before this season began.
ESPN analyst Zach Kram noted that the Thunder have traded Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe during the summer. This left them with thin wing options. Kram argued that Williams' absence hurts the team's offense, but the greater problem is on defense. The Thunder have led the league in defensive rating in the past two seasons and rank second so far this year.
Kram pointed out that last year the Thunder had four recent All-Defensive team players on the perimeter. The summer trades and these two injuries leave Alex Caruso as the only elite perimeter defender. Caruso is load-managed to stay fresh for the playoffs, averaging 18.8 minutes per game in the regular season compared to 24.1 in the postseason.
Bobby Marks reported that the Thunder will likely receive a $15 million disabled player exception. They also hold three trade exceptions worth $17.8 million, $11.3 million, and $9.2 million. Using more than $6.9 million of the disabled player exception would push the team over the second apron, though they are not hard-capped. The team has seven tradeable first-round picks, including three in the 2027 draft, and 21 second-round picks.
Marks said the financial situation makes it difficult to trade for a high-salary player. The only Thunder players making more than $7.8 million are effectively untradeable, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein. Kram suggested that potential targets include Herb Jones of the New Orleans Pelicans or Justin Champagnie of the Washington Wizards. He also noted that Clippers players Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn are in the final years of their contracts and could be viable options.
Kram predicts the Thunder will fall to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. He cited the strong starts by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Lakers. Marks countered that the Thunder remain the top team in the West, noting their 39-10 record without Williams last season. He believes their bench depth and roster resources will keep them competitive.
Source: ESPN
