What happened: The Oklahoma City Thunder plan to use financial flexibility from a recent trade with the Atlanta Hawks to secure future extensions for Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell. The franchise intends to extend Wallace this offseason before focusing on Mitchell next summer.

Why it matters: The organizational strategy aligns with shedding $224 million in salary to avoid the second-apron threshold. Prioritizing Wallace and Mitchell ensures the team retains developing talent while managing future payroll constraints.

What to watch: The Thunder will navigate the current offseason to finalize an agreement with Wallace.