The Oklahoma City Thunder’s injury trouble on Sunday night has forced a hard look at the roster, and Jalen Williams is at the center of it.
Cason Wallace’s shoulder injury was a hit, especially after his recent contract extension. But Williams’ leg injury is the one that raises the biggest alarm.
He’s become a crucial part of OKC’s setup alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, giving the Thunder scoring punch and defensive help on both ends. At the same time, his repeated injuries over the past two years have kept him from staying on the floor consistently.
That’s where the conversation starts to get interesting. Williams has already shown he can be one of the league’s best two-way players when he’s right, but the combination of health concerns and Oklahoma City’s luxury tax situation has opened the door to a possible change in direction. Heavy’s Sean Deveney wrote that the Thunder may be more prepared to move on than they were before:
“The Thunder dealt with injuries to Williams most of last season, and while it is not ideal for the team to be without him again, there is a sense that this group might be better suited to play without him this time around… The question is whether backcourt players who were reliable last year can take steps forward to replace Williams’ scoring: Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain.”
Oklahoma City’s depth gives it options. Even with important players out, there is enough talent on hand to keep things moving. But that depth also feeds the bigger question: if the Thunder were to explore a Williams replacement, who would it be?
Deveney pointed to New Orleans Pelicans forward Herb Jones as someone who could enter the picture.
“ After struggling with his shot last year (38.3% from the field and 30.9% from the 3-point line), Jones has seen his minutes plummet from 28.4 to 17.0 this season. He is averaging just 3.3 points coming out of the gate, and for a guy who was a big commodity on the market a year ago, his value has slipped dramatically. It’s possible that Jones could be a target to replace Williams in OKC, in fact.”
Jones’ appeal is easy to understand. When he’s healthy, he’s widely seen as one of the NBA’s top wing defenders.
New Orleans’ rise behind Trey Murphy III has squeezed his role, and that reduced playing time has dragged down his production. Even so, he still carries the kind of traits that can matter in a playoff-caliber rotation.
There’s also a clear financial angle. Jones has a $14.9 million cap hit, which could help Oklahoma City trim salary.
That part is attractive. But it doesn’t automatically make him the best answer.
Jones has the defensive chops to fit, and he’s shown enough touch to be a viable perimeter threat. Last season, he shot 40.0% from three-point range in his three appearances, even though he struggled badly this season at 30.9% from beyond the arc. His career line - 9.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game on 45.8% shooting and 35.0% from three - underlines why he remains a useful player.
Still, Williams brings more to the table. His career averages of 17.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game show a player who does far more than defend and spot up. His $41.2 million cap hit will sting while he’s out, but that doesn’t make Jones a clean swap.
That doesn’t mean the Thunder should rule out moving Williams. It just means Jones may not be the fit they should chase.
Mitchell and McCain have both shown enough to suggest they could help stabilize the second unit, and that may be where Oklahoma City gets the most value while it keeps pushing for another title run. If the Thunder go shopping for a replacement, the better move may be aiming higher than Jones.
In Other News...
Thunders Unbeaten Start Suddenly Comes With A Worry Fans Will Feel
Oklahoma Citys unbeaten start kept rolling for most of the night against the Clippers, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander carrying the offense and finishing with 27 points as the Thunder held a late lead in the fourth quarter. It was the kind of win that fit the early-season script for a team that has looked steady on both ends and confident in close games.
The concern arrived in the third quarter, when Jaylin Williams and Cason Wallace both exited with injuries and did not return. Williams was dealing with right wrist soreness, while Wallace had left shoulder soreness, and the sight of two rotation pieces heading to the bench at once is the sort of thing that can linger far longer than one regular-season game. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Suddenly Have A Huge Jalen Williams Concern
The Thunder had one of those late-game moments nobody in Oklahoma City wanted to see when Jalen Williams went up for a dunk against the Clippers and came down awkwardly on his leg in the fourth quarter. The sequence turned quickly from a routine attacking play into a scary pause, with Williams eventually leaving the floor in a leg brace after being helped off.
Williams did manage to give the crowd a thumbs up before he exited, a small sign that offered some relief in the moment. Even so, the bigger concern now is the same one that follows any sudden injury like this, since the Thunder have not provided an official update on his status and will be waiting to learn how serious it is. [Read more 🡒]
Aday Mara Is Already Making OKC's Draft Choice Look Smarter
Aday Mara is already giving the Thunder a good early return on a draft decision that drew plenty of attention in the moment. Taken 12th overall, the big man has looked comfortable through his first three games, and the early read from Oklahoma City is that his defense and fit have been just as encouraging as the raw production.
For a team that values long-term upside but still wants immediate signs of progress, Maras start matters. Around the same Michigan pipeline of prospects, the opening stretch has been uneven, which only makes Maras smooth transition stand out more for the Thunder as they track whether they found the right player for this spot. [Read more 🡒]