Cason Wallace arrived at the Oklahoma City Thunder's media day at Paycom Center on Monday without a contract extension, three weeks before the October 19 deadline. Asked where talks stood, he kept it short.

"That's between my agent and Sam," Wallace said, referring to general manager Sam Presti. "I'm just here to get better and win games."

If there is no deal by October 19, Wallace becomes a restricted free agent next summer, and the Thunder could match any offer sheet he signs. He also gave a shout-out to Keyonte George, a fellow North Texan from the 2023 draft, whose five-year, $157.5 million extension with Utah is one of the deals that shaped Wallace's market.

Who replaces Dort

The question over Wallace's role follows the biggest move of Oklahoma City's summer. The Thunder traded starter Lu Dort to Atlanta in a three-team deal completed on July 19, taking three second-round picks and getting below the second apron. Aaron Wiggins also went to Atlanta and Isaiah Joe to Detroit.

At his preseason news conference on September 24, Presti said the Dort trade showed the organization's confidence in Wallace. He called losing Dort, Joe and Wiggins "certainly disappointing."

On Monday, ESPN's Tim MacMahon asked head coach Mark Daigneault whether Wallace would start. Daigneault would not get into the rotation. Instead he pointed to the games Wallace has already started, including in the Finals.

He's somebody that I trust as much as anybody.

Mark Daigneault, at Thunder media day on Monday

Nobody at the club has named a starter. NBA.com's season preview picks Ajay Mitchell as its breakout candidate, and the Associated Press reports that Jared McCain, Mitchell and Wallace are all expected to take on bigger roles, the question camp now has to answer.

Williams is back, and two players will be limited

Jalen Williams, who missed more than half of last season with injuries, said on Monday that he has been "totally healthy" since early-to-mid June. Presti had said on September 24 that Williams "looks fantastic."

Presti also said Nikola Topić and Thomas Sorber would be limited in camp as the Thunder manage their returns. Topić had back surgery in June. Sorber missed all of last season with a torn ACL in his right knee, then had an arthroscopic procedure on the same knee in July. Both said on Monday that they feel good. Rookie Otega Oweh, whose Summer League ended with a left ankle injury, is back to full strength.

Gilgeous-Alexander's third MVP bid

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starts the 2026-27 season bidding for a third straight MVP award. The last player to win three in a row was Larry Bird, from 1984 to 1986. Gilgeous-Alexander said he has given it little thought: "The decision for MVP is like literally 82 games away."

He described losing Dort, Joe and Wiggins as the business of the NBA, and said getting Williams back would make life easier for him and for the rest of the group.

Camp opened on Tuesday. The Thunder play the first of five preseason games against the New Orleans Pelicans in Tulsa on October 6, and open the regular season on October 20 at San Antonio, the team that beat them in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. Wallace's deadline falls the day before.