OKC paid Wallace $139M. The Pacers and Wolves are counting every dollar.

OKC spends first

The hosts of the Locked On Thunder podcast report that Oklahoma City signed Cason Wallace to a five-year, $139 million extension — roughly $28 million a year — with negotiations reportedly starting around $25 million annually. The hosts say signing now removes the pressure of a contract year and sidesteps the risks of restricted free agency, which GM Sam Presti has historically refused to let his players reach. m:…8510

Presti, per the hosts, has consistently said the second apron is no barrier to keeping the roster together — and the hosts describe a roster with three All-NBA players that they rate as the title favorites or second favorites. Underneath the spending, the cap machinery keeps running: the hosts note Oklahoma City cycles Exhibit 10 contracts to secure G League rights and pay financial bonuses, while carrying 14 of 15 standard spots and all three two-way deals. m:…8510

Indiana counts to the dollar

The hosts of the Locked On Pacers podcast report Indiana is hard-capped at the first apron with roughly $206 million in team salary — so tight the Pacers cannot currently add even a veteran-minimum deal, because the cap hit exceeds their remaining space. The 15th standard spot is likely to stay open, with the hosts saying the priority after opening night is filling that spot carefully, managing apron flexibility, and watching tax status ahead of the trade deadline. m:…2461

The extension clock is also running: the hosts put the league's extension deadline at 6 p.m. on the Monday before the season starts, with Jarace Walker and Ben Shepard eligible for rookie-scale extensions of up to five years — but give it less than a 50% chance that any Pacers extension gets signed. Indiana finished the preseason 1-3, is carrying 14 standard players and three two-ways, and cannot stash veteran James Johnson on a two-way because his 16 years of service exceed the four-year limit. The hosts note many NBA teams are carrying only 14 players into the season for the same apron reasons. m:…2461

Minnesota leaves the 15th open

The hosts of the Locked On Timberwolves podcast report Minnesota waived Enrique Freeman in final roster cuts and will likely leave its 15th standard spot open for future signings or buyout candidates. Zion Pullen is expected to stay on a two-way rather than being elevated, and the Timberwolves intend to retain Rocco Zakarski for big-man depth. m:…7551

The open two-way slot has a long candidate list, the hosts say: Tristan Newton — recently waived by Sacramento — plus Trevor Keels, Nate Santos, Drew Timme, Kennedy Chandler and Fletcher Loyer. The hosts also expect Minnesota to extend Dante DiVincenzo at a reasonable figure. m:…7551

The pattern

Read the three episodes as one front-office picture and the math is the same everywhere: pay to keep the drafted core, and treat the last two roster spots as options. Oklahoma City is the team that can afford the first half of that sentence — the hosts' framing has Presti spending through the second apron to keep a contender intact — while Indiana and Minnesota live the second half, where a 14-man roster and an open 15th spot are the price of staying under the line. m:…8510 m:…2461 m:…7551