Thunder lose Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace to long-term injuries
Both starters will undergo surgery and miss months, leaving the Oklahoma City team thin on the wing after summer trades.
By Gabriel Rivera ·
The Oklahoma City Thunder went 3-0 into the 2026-27 season, but a win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday ended with two starting guards on stretchers and out for the year.
General manager Sam Presti confirmed on Monday that Jalen Williams will have surgery for a dislocated left ankle and fractured fibula. Cason Wallace will also have surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Both players are expected to miss several months of play.
Williams suffered the ankle injury late in the fourth quarter of the 108-101 win. Wallace left the game in the first quarter and did not return. The Thunder had already lost perimeter depth in the summer by trading Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins.
Zach Kram of ESPN noted that the Thunder led the league in defensive rating in the past two seasons and rank second so far this year. With Williams and Wallace gone, only Alex Caruso remains among their elite perimeter defenders. Caruso has averaged 18.8 minutes per game this season, compared to 24.1 in the playoffs.
Kram pointed out that the Thunder face matchup problems against teams like the Lakers, Celtics, and Mavericks. They will need to guard players such as De'Aaron Fox, LaMelo Ball, and Luka Doncic, roles that are difficult for smaller guards to fill.
Financially, the Thunder may receive a $15 million disabled player exception. They also hold three trade exceptions totaling $38.3 million and seven first-round draft picks. However, matching high salaries is difficult because their biggest earners are effectively untradeable.
Bobby Marks of ESPN listed potential targets including Herb Jones, Justin Champagnie, and De'Anthony Melton. He also noted that Clippers players Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn are in the final years of their contracts and could be options.
Kram predicts the Thunder will drop to the No. 3 seed in the West. Marks believes the team will remain the top team in the division based on their 39-10 record without Williams last season.
Source: ESPN
