Oklahoma City’s season has already been thrown into a new kind of uncertainty, but Zach Lowe isn’t ready to slam the door on Jalen Williams just yet.
Williams’ injury has dinged the Thunder’s title hopes after they opened 2026-27 with the best championship odds, and the early read around the team is that a return this season would be a long shot. Lowe, though, said he’s not prepared to rule it out until Oklahoma City does.
"I'm not closing the door on J-Dub returning in the playoffs… based on what I've heard, I'm not closing the door until the Thunder actually publicly close it."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 3, 2026
Zach Lowe on the possibility of Jalen Williams coming back for the playoffs 👀
(via @ringer) pic.twitter.com/uaUAkkIMZQ
“I’m not closing the door on J-Dub returning in the playoffs, assuming that they make the playoffs,” Lowe said. “I’m expecting him to be out for the season, cause we all saw what happened. But, based on what I’ve heard, I’m not closing the door until the Thunder actually publicly close it, and/or he actually publicly closes it.”
That uncertainty comes as Oklahoma City is already adjusting its roster. The Thunder signed Dalen Terry to a two-year deal Tuesday after backing off plans to add free-agent forward Ochai Agbaji last week. And with Chet Holmgren sidelined for at least two months while he underwent biological treatment for a patellar tendon tear in his right knee, Lowe expects the Thunder to be active before the deadline.
He even sketched out the kind of swing Oklahoma City could take if it decides to chase help now.
“We can still make something of this season with a really dramatic win-now trade, like for a big player or two big players, and it would require us sending out a big salary. Maybe it’s Jalen Williams’ salary, and just for a player who’s going to help us this year. That seems extremely un-Thunder-like to me,” Lowe said.
“Maybe it’s Isaiah Hartenstein’s salary; they are most well fortified at his position, and his contract is not very long. Maybe we combine, like, a Sorber plus Kenrich Williams plus something else, get up to like $20 million, and bring back a player that’s worth that amount of money. They can’t really go up too much in salary because of the tax and second apron.”
Zach Lowe floats a win-now trade for the Thunder
— NBABase (@TheNBABase) November 3, 2026
“We can still make something of this season with a really dramatic win-now trade, like for a big player or two big players, and it would require us sending out a big salary. Maybe it's Jalen Williams' salary… Maybe it's Isaiah… pic.twitter.com/QkGyKTMJJk
A smaller move still feels possible, but Lowe made it clear that a Jalen Williams trade is the least likely route. Oklahoma City’s stockpile of first-round picks gives it another path: packaging assets for an impact player, especially one who can help in the frontcourt.
And with Holmgren out, Isaiah Hartenstein’s role only grows. Lowe pointed to his defense as a bigger and bigger factor, especially if the Thunder end up in a playoff series against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets or in a rematch with the San Antonio Spurs. For now, that makes Hartenstein look like a player Oklahoma City is more likely to keep through this season.
In Other News...
Former Sixer Dalen Terry Just Landed An Intriguing New Chance
Dalen Terrys latest stop gives him another shot to stick in the NBA, and it comes at a time when Oklahoma City can use the help. The former first-round pick was waived by the Warriors after training camp, then left Golden States G League affiliate to join the Thunder, who had an open roster spot and a clear need for wing depth.
For Oklahoma City, the move is as much about covering ground as it is about upside. The Thunder are navigating multiple long-term injuries, so adding another athletic perimeter option makes sense even if the arrangement is expected to be a modest one. Terry now gets a chance to compete for a role in a situation where opportunity is available, and the Thunder get a low-risk look at a player with some pedigree still attached to his name. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Fill Final Roster Spot As Rotation Pressure Suddenly Grows
Oklahoma City is using its final roster spot on wing depth, with reports saying the Thunder are signing Dalen Terry to a two-year deal. Terry, who has spent time with the Bulls and 76ers, gives the defending group another versatile defender at a moment when the margin for error has shrunk, even if the team has not officially announced the move yet.
The timing matters because the Thunder are suddenly navigating a stretch without several key rotation pieces, and that has opened the door for a player like Terry to matter sooner than expected. His fit is straightforward on paper, defense, length and energy, but the bigger question is how much responsibility he can absorb if Oklahoma City needs him to play real minutes while the roster gets healthy again. [Read more 🡒]
Thunder Injuries Are Putting Sam Presti In A Tough Spot
The Thunders early-season injury pileup, combined with offseason departures, has left Sam Presti with a roster puzzle that is bigger than the usual in-season patchwork. Oklahoma City has been built to withstand adversity better than most teams, but the current stretch is testing the depth and flexibility that have long been part of the front offices identity.
Presti does have avenues to explore if he decides the group needs help sooner rather than later, and New Orleans has already emerged as a team worth watching in that conversation. The challenge is finding the right balance between making a meaningful move and protecting the kind of cap flexibility that has helped keep the Thunder positioned for the long haul, especially with the second apron looming over any serious trade pursuit. [Read more 🡒]