Thunder Notes: Cason Wallace, Nikola Topic, Chet Holmgren

The Thunder have rewarded several core players with contract extensions in recent years. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Cason Wallace could be next.

The 22-year-old guard emerged as one of the NBA’s premier perimeter defenders this season, earning All-Defensive honors for the first time.

Wallace led the league in steals and consistently frustrated opposing guards throughout the regular season and playoffs. Marks noted that opponents shot just 41.6% when Wallace was the closest defender, one of the best marks in the NBA.

With Oklahoma City’s core largely intact, locking up Wallace long-term could become one of the organization’s next priorities.

Topic eager to get started

Few young players have faced more adversity than Nikola Topic.

The former first-round pick has spent the past two years battling a partially torn ACL and, more recently, testicular cancer. Now, he’s ready to move forward.

“I learned a lot about myself,” Topic told Eurohoops. “I didn’t know how tough I was.”

Topic said the challenges helped him grow both on and off the court and believes he can emerge stronger because of them.

The Thunder remain high on his long-term potential and hope he can finally begin showing it on the court next season.

Questions surrounding Holmgren

Despite strong public support from teammates and coaches, Chet Holmgren remains a popular topic of debate following Oklahoma City’s playoff exit.

Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports recently examined whether the Thunder should at least consider moving Holmgren, citing durability concerns, previous postseason struggles and the looming cost of his rookie-scale extension.

Most around the league still view Holmgren as a foundational piece, and both Mark Daigneault and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander strongly defended him following the Western Conference finals.

Still, the conversation isn’t likely to disappear anytime soon. Holmgren is coming off his first All-Star season and remains one of the league’s most talented young big men.

The Thunder continue to believe he is a major part of their future. The question now is how much bigger that future can become.