Jared McCain hits four three-pointers, scores 18

Although Jared McCain is available for Monday’s game, the Thunder are starting with a bigger lineup. JayWill has replaced him, which should help the Thunder match up better against Cleveland’s Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

After totaling 10 points in his first two starts of the season, Williams scored 11 on Saturday. He was most valuable against the Rockets in three-pointers and rebounds, but this performance doesn’t make “Kenny Hustle” a must-add heading into Oklahoma City’s four-game Week 3. Also, with the Thunder playing two games against Cleveland to start the week, it’s fair to wonder whether head coach Mark Daigneault would consider a bigger lineup to match up with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. If so, Williams or Jared McCain (10/4/2/1) could be headed to the bench.

The Thunder have three new starters for Monday’s game, and two (McCain and Mitchell) could hold onto those roles for the foreseeable future. Cason Wallace (shoulder) and Jalen Williams (ankle/fibula) could miss the rest of the season due to injuries that require surgery. “Kenny Hustle” starts for Chet Holmgren, who is dealing with right patellar tendinitis.

Williams’s injury was gruesome, and this diagnosis confirms it. General manager Sam Presti said a timeline will be provided following the surgery, but at this time, it’s unclear exactly how long he’ll be out. However, given the severity, it’s safe to say it will be a lengthy absence for him. Jared McCain and Ajay Mitchell should both take on larger roles with Cason Wallace (shoulder) set to undergo surgery as well.

The Thunder lost Cason Wallace (shoulder) in the first quarter on Sunday. While Mitchell wasn’t the choice to start the third quarter, his role will expand if Wallace misses time. Jared McCain (three points, one rebound, one steal, and one three-pointer) replaced Wallace, and he can provide points and three-pointers in that role. However, Mitchell is the better option for fantasy managers left choosing between the two on the waiver wire.

McCain was on fire from beyond the arc in this game and was able to spark some runs for the Thunder. He matched his career high for three-pointers in a game, which he also did twice during the first month of his rookie season. McCain was an excellent addition for the Thunder last season, and he’s going to continue to make an impact off the bench this year. However, managers shouldn’t be rushing to the waiver wire after this since he likely won’t have performances of this magnitude consistently.

McCain led Oklahoma City in scoring in just 19 minutes in the overtime win. Sam Presti already hyped him up before the preseason began, and he has shown why during the preseason, having now hit 13 triples across three games. When the team is fully healthy, his role will likely be too limited for him to make an impact for fantasy managers, but it should be large enough for him to be an important piece in OKC’s rotation.

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.