Ajay Mitchell records 12 points, five steals

On a night when three of Oklahoma City’s five projected starters were available, Mitchell came off the bench. Cason Wallace, the replacement in the starting lineup on most nights last season, started against the Bucks and appears likely to keep that role. However, this doesn’t mean fantasy managers considering Mitchell should panic. He showed last season that he can provide consistent category league value in a reserve role, and that shouldn’t change in 2026-27, especially with his playing time expected to increase.

Not only will all three take on larger roles with Luguentz Dort now in Atlanta, but Presti is expecting genuine jumps in their production. All 3 players had strong stretches for OKC last season, and they’ll be relied on once again to help the Thunder get back on track after losing in the Western Conference Finals last season. Wallace seems like the most likely choice to start, but Mitchell and McCain will play big minutes off the bench.

Oklahoma City recently dealt Aaron Wiggins to the Hawks for picks, and Joe is the latest in a series of moves to clear cap space. Lu Dort is another name to keep an eye on as the Thunder look to shed salary. In the meantime, the absences of Wiggins and Joe should mean more run for Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain, two players who had strong postseason performances. Joe’s fantasy stock is on the rise in Detroit, as he could be a starter or Sixth Man thanks to his elite floor-spacing abilities.

Oklahoma City’s season came to an end on Saturday, as they dropped Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals to the Spurs. And with that, the front office has decisions to make regarding the futures of Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein and Kenrich Williams. Each has a team option for next season, with Dort’s being worth a little over $17.7 million. The defensive stalwart hopes to remain with the lone team that he’s played for since entering the NBA in 2019. “The conversation hasn’t happened yet,” Dort said when asked about his team option. “I have a lot of trust in this organization, in Sam (Presti). Really grateful for all the stuff he did for me to this point. I want to stay here. This organization, this city, shaped me as a player. My main goal is to stay here.” Dort has not been a consistently impactful option for fantasy managers in recent seasons. Still, his future in Oklahoma City could affect the ceilings of Ajay Mitchell, Cason Wallace and Jared McCain. If the Thunder were to move on from Dort, there would be an opening in the starting lineup to fill.

Saturday’s series finale will be the fourth consecutive game that Mitchell has missed since straining his right calf during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. Jalen Williams (hamstring) is also out for Game 7, which means the Thunder will once again lean heavily on Jared McCain. Alex Caruso and Isaiah Joe also have added importance due to the absences.

Mitchell will miss a third straight game when the Thunder try to close out the Spurs on Thursday. Mitchell had performed like one of OKC’s best scorers through the first two rounds of the postseason, but hasn’t found his rhythm in the Western Conference Finals. Jared McCain will likely remain in the starting lineup with Mitchell sidelined.

McCain’s insertion into the opening unit didn’t necessarily lead to a fast start individually — he logged only two points of 1-of-5 shooting over the first two quarters. However, he would proceed to score nine points in each of the third and fourth quarters to finish as one of three Thunder players to reach the 20-point mark. There’s no telling when Jalen Williams (hamstring) or Ajay Mitchell (calf) will return from injuries. Regardless, McCain’s production in this series should keep him firmly in the nightly rotation with a large role.

Williams’ third straight absence puts the Thunder in a tougher spot, as they’ll also be without Ajay Mitchell (calf). Williams hasn’t played since Game 2 of the series, logging just seven first-quarter minutes before being ruled out the rest of the way. His presence will be missed, placing extra importance on players such as Jared McCain, Cason Wallace, and Isaiah Joe to fill the void in production for a Thunder team looking to protect homecourt and take a 3-2 series lead.

Mitchell moved into the starting lineup for Game 3 of the series with Jalen Williams (hamstring) sidelined. He suffered a right calf strain and was ruled out for Game 4 and Game 5. Cason Wallace started Game 4 and might have to start Game 5 too with Williams listed as questionable.

Mitchell, who exited Friday’s Game 3 victory after suffering a lower-body injury during the third quarter, has been diagnosed with a strained right calf. The second-year guard started Game 3 for the injured Jalen Williams (hamstring), so the Thunder may need another player to move into the lineup for Game 4. Jared McCain scored a playoff career-high 24 points on Friday and should figure prominently in the rotation for Game 4.