Word has come out that “The Office,” which is currently going through a solid run of shows in an otherwise uneven season, will have some cast changes for a potential ninth season.

First off, James Spader will not return as the enigmatic Robert California. I think this casting move never really paid off. There have been some OK moments, but nothing truly memorable. Hopefully they have him go out with a bang somehow.

With the second piece of news, we can begin to imagine a future without Kelly Kapoor (NBC somehow is letting Mindy Kaling’s pilot idea go to Fox) and Dwight Kurt Schrute (potential spinoff, two of the dirtiest words out there) but with the Nard Dog, and JAM since Ed Helms, John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer all have started negotiating their return.

The show will survive without Kelly, but I think NBC miscalculated in losing Kaling’s creative vision, especially with the less profane female sitcoms succeeding this year. I have mixed feelings on Dwight moving to a spinoff because it takes away a foil for so many characters, but if they see this show only lasting one more season and can get more out of “¡Dwight!” in the long run, I can’t quibble.

That leaves us with the remaining cast and the gaping whole at the top of Sabre. As I watched a random episode from Season 3 yesterday, I realized the only casting decision which makes sense.

David Wallace must need a job since I don’t think Suck It has taken off as a product. He has a history with the crew, but certainly left Sabre a changed man. He could inject some energy into the Scranton branch. Andy Buckley, the actor who played Wallace, is ona an ABC Family show called “The Lying Game” so that would have to be worked out. But if he can free his schedule, I think “The Office” would benefit from a little David Wallace instead of creating another goofy outsider to shake things up.