Cason Wallace Will Be Crucial to Oklahoma City's Success Down the Stretch

The Thunder's rookie guard could see an extended role in the playoffs.

Not many people expected Cason Wallace to make this big of a difference on a top-three team in the NBA. Sometimes it's easy for rookies to score points in bunches, but it's nearly impossible for first-year players to impact winning on an elite team. Wallace has given the Thunder a pesky defender, a dead-eye 3-point shooter, and the perfect connector in year one.

Oklahoma City traded up to No. 10 to select Wallace, and on a team full of solid guards, he has found a way to carve out playing time.

The cool thing about a player like Wallace is he's still just scratching the surface. He has been able to adapt to his specific role on a great team, which is a trait that can't be taught. His game will likely expand far beyond the 3-and-D mold, but he's figured out that's the best way to contribute immediately.

On the season, Wallace is averaging 6.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists on 50.4% from the floor, 41.2% from the 3-point line and 84.6% from the charity stripe.

Oklahoma City is locked into a top-four seed barring a collapse over the last few months of the season, and Wallace has become a vital part of the rotation. He's seeing around 20 minutes a game and has become the Thunder's permanent spot starter. Mark Daigneault clearly trusts him as a player and his consistency has been huge for this young squad.

Taking a quick glance at the teams in the play-in conversation, there will be no easy outs in the postseason. Against a few potential teams, Wallace's impact could be massive. The Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings all have All-Star guards, and both the Mavericks and Warriors have All-Star duo's. Lu Dort will do his best in the starting lineup, but giving him a break without the defense falling apart will be key.

If Josh Giddey continues to struggle, Wallace's defensive ability in bigger lineups could be a massive plus for the Thunder. If his 3-point shot can remain around 40%, he might even see an uptick in his minutes depending on the matchup.

The Western Conference is loaded with elite guards, and having Wallace ready and able to step in and defend on any given night is an enormous security blanket for Oklahoma City. He will gain valuable playoff experience and could help the Thunder on the court in the process.

His rookie season has been special so far, but his impact down the stretch could grow.

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