Roundup
Minnesota Timberwolves
Oklahoma City Thunder
Thunder lock in Cason Wallace on major extension – Northwest Division roundup
No games in the Northwest Division yesterday, but the Thunder and Timberwolves used the off day to lock in Cason Wallace and Jaden McDaniels.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
There were no games on the schedule yesterday in the Northwest Division, but it was a busy day on the contract front in Oklahoma City and Minnesota, with the early standings remaining tight (Nuggets 3-2, Timberwolves 3-3, Thunder 1-4, Trail Blazers 3-1, Jazz 3-1).
Thunder commit long term to Cason Wallace
According to CBS Sports, the Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed to a five-year, $139 million extension with guard Cason Wallace. CBS Sports notes that the deal comes on the heels of an offseason focused on shedding salary and ducking the punitive second apron of the luxury tax. Locking in Wallace at that number already has observers wondering, per the outlet, how much cap flexibility the Thunder will have in future summers as they try to keep a young core together.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma City hosts the San Antonio Spurs in its home opener. As reported by the San Antonio Express-News and relayed by Hoops Rumors, forward Tobias Harris, the Spurs’ primary free agent addition this summer, will be sidelined for that game as he recovers from a left calf strain, though he is ramping up his activity. For the 1-4 Thunder, it’s a chance to face a Spurs team missing a key veteran presence next to Victor Wembanyama.
Timberwolves extend Jaden McDaniels, see prospect head to Kansas
In Minnesota, the Timberwolves also moved to secure an important piece. Per Hoops Rumors, forward Jaden McDaniels has reached agreement with the team on a one-year veteran extension worth $40 million. Hoops Rumors points out that McDaniels was already under contract for three more seasons at $84 million, with this new year added on top of that existing deal.
Hoops Rumors also reports that Wolves second-round pick Trey Kaufman-Renn will continue his development in the NCAA rather than with Minnesota right away. Kaufman-Renn is joining Kansas’ men’s basketball program for the 2026-27 season after a long stint at Purdue, which included a redshirt year in 2021-22 and four playing seasons through 2026. Over that stretch with the Boilermakers, he averaged 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.
At 3-3, Minnesota will be hoping that the long-term stability around McDaniels and the growth of prospects like Kaufman-Renn eventually translate into wins in a Northwest race where Denver (3-2), Utah (3-1), and Portland (3-1) have all opened strong.