NBA Notes: Thunder, Cason Wallace, lineups, Heat, Dru Smith, Blazers

Thunder

With the Thunder bringing back nearly the same roster that won the championship last season, the team is banking on growth from within. One player expected to take a step forward is 21-year-old guard Cason Wallace, entering his third year in the league, according to Rylan Stiles of Sports Illustrated.

Wallace’s defense has already made him a reliable part of the rotation, but his scoring efficiency dipped in year two. After shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from three-point range as a rookie, his numbers slipped to 47.4 percent overall and 35.6 percent from deep. The biggest drop came from the corners, where his three-point percentage fell by about 10 points.

Even with the decline, Wallace found ways to contribute on offense. He ranked in the 81st percentile as a cutter, averaging 1.463 points per possession, and added 1.222 points per possession as a pick-and-roll option in guard-to-guard sets. Stiles believes Wallace’s shooting slump will not last and expects a bounce-back season.

In a separate story, Stiles highlighted the five Thunder lineups he is most eager to see. While Oklahoma City has the flexibility to lean heavily on either offense or defense, the projected group of Wallace, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren was listed as the best overall option.

Stiles also pointed to Nikola Topic as a player to watch. The rookie guard missed last season following ACL surgery but is expected to thrive when surrounded by shooters.

Heat

After signing a new contract with the Heat over the weekend, guard Dru Smith is focused on being fully cleared when training camp opens Sept. 30, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

Smith is rehabbing from an Achilles tear that ended his season in December. He said he has been involved in some contact work and expects to take part in five-on-five scrimmages in the coming weeks.

“Honestly, it’s all been going really well,” Smith said. “I feel like I’ve been on a great trajectory as far as the rehab stuff goes. I’ve started to do some contact stuff now. I haven’t jumped fully back into five-on-five. I would say probably here in the next few weeks or so.

“I think it’s all just basically going to be how I respond to the more and more live sessions that I get in. I think the goal, obviously, is to be ready by camp. And I think that as of right now, with no setback, that’s kind of what we’re looking at.”

Before the injury, Smith had carved out a role in Miami’s rotation and appeared close to being promoted from a two-way deal to a standard contract. He averaged 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 steals in 14 games, with coach Erik Spoelstra often turning to him in closing lineups.

The Heat chose to keep Smith on the roster despite his injury, and he remained around the team while rehabbing. A roster spot opened when Haywood Highsmith was traded to Brooklyn, allowing Miami to retain Smith this offseason.

“It was obviously a little stressful,” Smith said. “Any time you have nothing signed and nothing set in stone, I think it’s just a little worrisome. But overall I think we love this organization and we’re just excited to be able to be back and be a part of this.”

Smith first joined the Heat in 2021 on a training camp deal and later earned a two-way contract. Miami has waived him four times, only to bring him back each time.

“I’m extremely appreciative of an organization that believes in me the way that they have up to this point,” Smith said. “But also I think, obviously, this hasn’t been easy. There have been a lot of days where I’ve questioned whether this is what I’m supposed to be doing. I have amazing people around me.”

Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers’ sale to a group led by billionaire Tom Dundon is moving forward but is not expected to close until March 31, 2026, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic.

The Blazers first announced plans to sell the franchise in May, projecting a process that could extend into the 2025-26 season. News last week that Dundon had reached an agreement with the late Paul Allen’s estate came sooner than anticipated, though final approval is still months away.

Dundon and his investors have entered into an exclusivity agreement with the Allen estate, meaning negotiations with other buyers are no longer permitted.

While some details remain under discussion, all major terms are in place. A source close to Dundon told The Athletic that the sides hope to sign a purchase agreement next month.

Although a seven-month timeline is longer than most franchise sales, the process typically takes several months between a tentative agreement and final league approval. For comparison, William Chisholm’s purchase of the Celtics was reported in March and officially closed this week after Board of Governors approval.

The sale values the Blazers at an estimated $4.25 billion. Dundon’s group intends to keep the team in Oregon.

The future of the Moda Center, however, remains uncertain. The arena lease runs through 2030, but NBA commissioner Adam Silver has suggested a new building will eventually be needed.

“Nothing about the arena is a deal breaker on its own,” a source told The Athletic. “It’s lots of little things that add up.”