The Oklahoma City Thunder are continuing to invest in their young core. The team announced on October 19 that it has exercised its third-year contract option on guard Nikola Topic and fourth-year option on guard Cason Wallace.
The move locks in both guards through at least the 2026–27 season as part of Oklahoma City’s long-term plans under general manager Sam Presti.
Nikola Topic and Cason Wallace Sign Long-Term Deals
Topic, the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has yet to make his Thunder debut after missing the 2024–25 season recovering from a left knee injury. Before being drafted, the 6-foot-6 Serbian guard starred for Crvena zvezda in the Adriatic League, averaging 11.1 points, 4.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds in 28.4 minutes in 18 games for Crvena zvezda in the 2023-24 season
Regarded in draft circles as one of Europe’s most advanced young playmakers, Topic was drafted for his size, vision and pace in the open floor. Oklahoma City has been patient with his development as he completes his rehab after an offseason but a recent testicular surgery was another setback. OKC’s option decision signals confidence in his future role behind or alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and certainly signals to fans that Topic will be worth the wait when he finally takes the court for OKC.
Topic did show flashes in the offseason at Summer League, showing his playmaking ability with 7.3 assists per game in three contests. He also averaged 11 points in that period before his knee injury set him back.
Wallace, the Thunder’s 2023 first-round pick out of Kentucky, has become one of the league’s more reliable young perimeter defenders. Across his first two seasons, he has appeared in 150 games (56 starts), averaging 7.5 points, 2.0 assists and 1.31 steals in 23.8 minutes per game. Wallace played a meaningful role in the Thunder’s 2025 NBA championship run — he averaged 8.1 points, 1.7 steals and 2.3 assists across 20 playoff games, often guarding multiple frontline wings in late regulation minutes. His playoff versatility helped Oklahoma City maintain defensive intensity while Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams led the offense.
His defensive tenacity and shooting touch have earned him steady rotation minutes on one of the Western Conference’s deepest rosters. Wallace was named to the NBA’s Rising Stars teams in both 2024 and 2025, and he made the All-Rookie Second Team in 2024.
What It Means for Oklahoma City
The option decisions are routine but significant for a franchise built on long-term player development. The Thunder’s young core — led by Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Chet Holmgren and Wallace — continues to mature together, while Topic represents another layer of depth and flexibility for the backcourt.
Topic’s recovery and reintegration will be one of the key storylines heading into the second half of the season. If healthy, he could slot into the team’s secondary ball-handling and playmaking rotations, easing the workload on Gilgeous-Alexander.
Wallace, meanwhile, remains a crucial two-way piece for head coach Mark Daigneault. His ability to guard multiple positions and knock down perimeter shots fits seamlessly into Oklahoma City’s high-effort, switch-heavy defensive schemes.
The Thunder open the 2025–26 season on October 21 against the Houston Rockets as the defending NBA champions and one of the favorites to contend again. The pair of option pickups further stabilizes a roster already known for depth, youth, and continuity, three qualities that have defined Oklahoma City’s rise to the top of the NBA.
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