There's no way around it: the OKC Thunder are going to have to make some budget cuts this offseason, and beloved big man Jaylin Williams may be an unfortunate casualty.
With early signs pointing to GM Sam Presti bringing back Isaiah Hartenstein, and SGA rumored to be vouching for Lu Dort's return, the Thunder might have no choice but to trim the fat elsewhere, starting with their beloved backup center.
But whether the Thunder could, in the long run, withstand the loss is another story entirely.
Jay Will has been the heart and soul of the Thunder's bench for the majority of his tenure, and, in his third year with the team, it appeared he finally found a concrete role on the court.
He served as an effective center in coach Mark Daigneault's "small" lineups. His physicality on defense made him effective enough to guard opposing bigs, while his perimeter shooting and excellent floor vision allowed for a more multifaceted offensive attack.
Williams proved himself enough to earn Daigneault's trust over the course of the season, evidenced by his nearly doubled postseason minutes from the previous year.
Now, his place on the team might be completely dependent on what Presti decides to do with OKC's various team options.
Jaylin Williams' Thunder departure would be influenced by many what-if's
If the Thunder were to trade Williams in an attempt to stay under the NBA's second apron, it would be for a few reasons.
First, it would mean Hartenstein's return. The veteran made an immediate impact in his first year in Bricktown, which culminated in the city's first-ever championship.
Now, after proving to be the only Thunder capable of stopping Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, prioritizing his return seems like an obvious move.
It would also be a testament to how much faith the Thunder staff has in rookie Thomas Sorber.
After tearing his ACL, Sorber watched his first season in the league unfold from the sidelines. Now, fans are left wondering what his role will look like next season when he is finally healthy
As heard in Sam Presti's offseason press conference on Monday, the Georgetown product is unlikely to play in the Summer League, so fans will have to wait even longer for his much-anticipated debut.
OKC also has the 12th and 17th overall picks this year in the draft. Provided they could find a cheaper option to protect the rim, it might be in their best interest to trade experience for youth if it came at a discount.
Regardless, Williams' departure would mean OKC would have one fewer proven big man heading into the 2026-27 season, and fans would surely miss his emphatic personality and on-court energy.
Though Williams is under contract through next season, nothing is set in stone, and he, like many other Thunder role players, is far from untouchable.
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