As the Oklahoma City Thunder have navigated treacherous waters over these past few weeks without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a number of role players have stepped up to fill the void that their stars have left behind.
We could go down the list of impressive performances. But perhaps the most surprising of these was Jaylin Williams' 30-point night against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. Although the Thunder ultimately lost that game, Williams flashed a skill-set that has rarely been seen throughout his four-year tenure in Oklahoma City.
He finished the night with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists, making all seven of his free throws and sinking 5 of his 10 shots from beyond the arc. This caps off an excellent offensive month from an underrated player in the Thunder's rotation.
Yet his performance also brings an intriguing question to light. What is Williams' true role on the team? If he's capable of performances like this more consistently, can he carve out a space in Oklahoma City's long-term plans?
Jaylin Williams is one of the most curious cases on the Thunder's roster
Since being selected with the 34th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Williams has become an important contributor for the Thunder. But he doesn't fit a singular rotational archetype.
At just 6'9", he does not have the rim-protecting skill-set or the size to play center regularly. Against Detroit, Oklahoma City was vastly outplayed in the paint. It was a major reason they ultimately lost the game. But Williams does have enough offensive juice and floor-spacing capabilities to make him an intriguing piece as a power forward.
Over his past 10 games, this has been on full display. He's averaged 11.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 42.6% from 3-point range in that span.
At the same time, his lack of consistent offensive impact can be frustrating. He has 12 separate single-digit scoring performances this season when he's seen 20 or more minutes on the court. He doesn't always fit the way the Thunder like to utilize their bench minutes, slowing down their pace of play and often failing to make an impact on the offensive glass.
Oklahoma City will have some difficult decisions to make this offseason regarding their rotation. Both Jalen Williams' and Chet Holmgren's extensions will be kicking in, and it's quite possible they will be forced to decline Isaiah Hartenstein's $28 million club option for next season.
Williams has a $8 million club option looming for 2027-28. If Oklahoma City is looking to shave dollars off of their books, Williams could rapidly become a trade candidate as soon as this offseason.
This would be a painful choice, as Williams has proved himself to be capable of explosive performances like his outing against the Pistons. But as long as Williams' production remains inconsistent and his fit remains questionable, the Thunder could be presented with a difficult reality.