The Oklahoma City Thunder signed Jaylin Williams to a three-year, $24 million deal. They declined his $2.1 million team option for next season in favor of long-term security.
The NBA champion has had a busy weekend with house cleaning. Most of the roster will be brought back next season, besides some changes at the bottom of the depth chart. That said, Williams’ extension signals OKC’s desire to keep its rotation intact.
Williams has played a key role for the Thunder in his three seasons. He’s a rotation player who can either start or be the third-string center. He’s also viewed as a locker room and fan favorite for his personality.
Let’s examine Williams’ extension and break down what it means for the Thunder:
Williams’ background
Williams spent two college seasons at Arkansas. The Thunder drafted Williams with the No. 34 pick of the 2022 NBA draft. He’s been part of their rotation in his three seasons in OKC. He was a starter in his rookie season and has been mostly a bench player since.
The 23-year-old is a quality backup center who could spot-start when needed. He can stretch the floor with his outside shot. He shot an impressive 39.9% from 3 on 3.3 attempts last season. He can also serve as an offensive hub and has the passing chops to be a secondary playmaker.
Williams has averaged 5.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 165 career games in three seasons. The Thunder went with the decline-and-sign strategy once again. They’ve used that in recent years to keep their bench players on team-friendly deals.
Williams’ fit
We already know what Williams’ fit is on the Thunder. There are three seasons’ worth of data. He’s a luxury who can contribute in any role. He could be a starter on some low-end teams, but decided to stay on the NBA champion. Expect him to serve a similar role next season.
Even when Williams’ playoff role fluctuated, what he does in the regular season is valuable in itself. You always need rich depth to get through a grueling regular season. He’ll be somebody relied upon to help the bench lineups and fit with the starters when needed.
The Thunder have a team full of guys who understand their roles. Williams exemplifies that best. He understands his strengths on and off the court. Considering his stomachable salary, this was a no-brainer move to keep him around as a luxury who can upscale and downscale his minutes.
Williams’ future
Expect more of the same from Williams next season. Beyond that, though. Things could get interesting. Isaiah Hartenstein will likely get his $28.5 million team option for the 2026-27 season declined. Not because he’s not worth it, but to make room for Chet Holmgren’s and Jalen Williams’ impending extensions.
That gives Williams a chance to be the backup center again. The spot will either be his or Thomas Sorber’s. You can do a lot worse than Williams in that spot. He might be undersized as a center, but his outside shot and skill set make up for it.
Also considering Williams’ deal, he’s a very movable trade piece. It shouldn’t be difficult to make an $8 million per season salary on just two guaranteed years. And considering he’s one of the better bench bigs in the league, there’d be a market for him if that day ever materialized.
Final thoughts
This was a great move by the Thunder. Some wondered if Williams could attract more on the open market in terms of salary and role. But the 23-year-old decided to stay put in OKC. These type of savvy moves helps massage the payroll that will quickly balloon with OKC’s star trio.
Williams has been one of the Thunder’s best second-round finds in recent history. Besides a short G League stint at the start of his rookie campaign, he’s been a mainstay in the rotation, from a starter to third-string center. You always need those players to fill out your roster.
Plus, as cliche as it sounds, Williams’ personality is an intangible plus. The fans can see how much he’s beloved in the OKC locker room. As an NBA champion and perennial title contender, managing personalities is almost as important as wins. He will certainly help with that.
Final Grade: A-plus