The Oklahoma City Thunder’s latest salary-shedding move has already pushed the conversation beyond this summer and into 2027, where another tough decision could land right in the Chicago Bulls’ lap.
After Oklahoma City’s three-team deal with the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks sent wing Lu Dort to Atlanta, Zaccharie Risacher to Dallas, Ryan Nembhard to the Hawks, and three second-round picks to the Thunder, the financial picture around the reigning title core looks even tighter. The Thunder have been trimming payroll this offseason to stay clear of the NBA’s second apron, and that pressure is expected to show up again next offseason once Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s four-year $271.7 million extension begins, according to Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron.
That matters for Chicago because Jaylin Williams becomes extension eligible in the 2027 offseason.
Around the league, there’s a familiar read on how Oklahoma City operates. When a Thunder role player doesn’t get extended, the expectation is often that a trade is coming, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. If that pattern holds, the Bulls need to be ready.
Williams checks a lot of boxes for a team looking to add a useful frontcourt piece. He’s 6-foot-9, 240 pounds, and will be entering his age-25 season during the final year of his contract in 2027-28. He also brings championship experience after being part of Oklahoma City’s 2024-25 title team, and he can play both power forward and center.
His production has been steady over four seasons in Oklahoma City. According to Basketball Reference, Williams has averaged 12.2 points per 36 minutes, 10.2 rebounds per 36 minutes, 1.0 steals per 36 minutes, and 1.0 blocks per 36 minutes. He’s also shown real value as a stretch big, hitting 38.7% of his 6.2 three-point attempts per 36 minutes.
For the Bulls, that kind of profile would be hard to ignore if Oklahoma City decides it can’t keep everyone.
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