Thunder injuries: Williams and Wallace upset the roster balance

Oklahoma City Thunder lost two important players in consecutive games. Jalen Williams suffered a dislocated left ankle and a fibula fracture, while defensive key piece Cason Wallace was hurt in the same game with a left shoulder injury.

These injuries have brought the club's decision to cut costs in the offseason back into the spotlight. The Thunder won the championship last season and came within one game of the NBA Finals. Management chose to reduce spending at a time when the luxury tax penalty could have reached around 350 million dollars, and brought the tax bill down to just under 20 million dollars.

In the Western Conference, the picture has changed. The San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama have moved one spot ahead of Oklahoma City. Some executives around the conference say the path ahead is now harder for the Thunder.

The club still has usable assets. Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins' trade exception rights can be used to add players to the roster. There are also several first-round and second-round draft picks still available. Experts say the Thunder need to weigh these assets carefully, especially to strengthen their wing defense.