Cason Wallace Wanted to be in Oklahoma City: ‘Get Me Here’

Oklahoma City’s newest lottery selection had a strong desire to end up with the Thunder — which seems to be a common theme these days.

The Thunder always seem to keep potential prospects under wraps throughout the pre-draft process. Sure, outsiders like to guess which team made promises to who, and often times, Oklahoma City’s name gets thrown into the mix simply because of one or two past examples. Most times though, it’s a complete shot in the dark when guessing who Sam Presti and co will select.

Cason Wallace’s initial interview after being selected No. 10 by the Thunder went viral fast, where the Kentucky guard explained how he didn’t mind living in Oklahoma City. At first glance, it seemed like Wallace’s perception on the city was a bit skewed, saying there was nothing to do but play basketball. He didn’t mean it that way though, and fans took it out of context. Now, we know for certain that Oklahoma City is the only place Wallace truly wanted to be.

“Once I did my workout, I felt free. You don’t feel that at every workout. I just felt comfortable,” Wallace said. “I played well. I shot the ball well. Me and the staff, me and the front office, everybody made me feel at home. I went back and told my agent, ‘Get me here. This is where I want to be.'”

Wallace’s clear statement of wanting to be in Oklahoma City fits what the team is trying to build. Young, talented, two-way playmakers that are bought into the culture and dynamic of the Thunder.

Last season, it was the same story but with the No. 2 pick — Chet Holmgren. It was harder for the Thunder to keep its infatuation secretive when it was the No. 2 pick in the draft, but after the pick was made, the do-it-all center expressed his desire to play for the organization too.

“Now that I’m here, I can officially say this is where I want to be,” said Holmgren.

Oklahoma City’s growing reputation as a desirable destination for the draft’s top talent is an indication of how far the organization has come. It might not be a huge city or a big market, but it’s a place to thrive as a basketball player. Growing with the young team and the young city is very appealing, and it’s easy to see why.

---

Want to join the discussion? Like Inside the Thunder on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.