Jaylin Williams is heading into the season with something to prove, and the path to keeping his place in Oklahoma City may be a little different than the one he’s used to.
The Thunder spent the offseason trying to build a competitive team without piling on costs, and the second apron was part of that equation. Oklahoma City managed to avoid it, but not without losing three players from the roster. That opened the door for the front office to restock the depth chart with rookies from the draft and players returning from injury, giving the Thunder a deeper group overall - especially in the frontcourt.
That’s where the squeeze comes in for Williams. He has been a valuable backup big man for Oklahoma City, and his 6-foot-9 frame has fit into the Thunder’s small-ball approach. But with more bigs now in the mix, his usual lane could get crowded fast.
Bleacher Report recently listed the top-10 players who have the most to lose during training camp, and Williams made the cut. The reasoning is pretty clear: the Thunder still need minutes for Thomas Sorber and Aday Mara, and there’s no realistic path to cutting into Chet Holmgren’s or Isaiah Hartenstein’s workload.
Contractly, the pressure is there too. Williams has a team option next season, which means Oklahoma City will have to decide whether he’s worth keeping at that price. If his minutes shrink in the frontcourt, that decision gets tougher.
But there is another route for him. The departures of Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe have created openings on the wings, and Williams could be one of the players who steps into that space.
He’s shown he can handle multiple defensive assignments, and his offensive game has taken real steps forward. Last season, he shot 38.3% from deep and 42.3% overall from the floor.
If Williams can keep giving Oklahoma City value as a wing while still filling in as a big, he could make himself a lot more useful to the Thunder. That versatility may end up being the thing that keeps him in the rotation - and possibly on the roster down the line.
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Otega Oweh Suddenly Faces A Real Thunder Problem This Preseason
Sam Presti spent part of the preseason talking about the NBAs new 3-2-1 draft lottery format and why it could make the league more competitive while cutting down on tanking, but the same broader shift could create a more ordinary problem for Oklahoma Citys own young players. The Thunder have long leaned on big rotations to help develop talent, and that approach has usually given prospects room to grow while the games still matter.
This preseason, though, tighter margins could make those minutes harder to find for second-round pick Otega Oweh. If the Thunder are playing more competitive games and shrinking the floor for developmental reps, his path could get complicated quickly, especially with the team weighing how best to handle his roster status and long-term growth. [Read more 🡒]