The Oklahoma City Thunder didn't have much time to rest on their laurels after winning an NBA championship. The NBA draft took place only a few days after OKC beat the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 to bring home the title, and free agency kicks off on June 30. The Thunder got a head start on the latter part of the offseason by inking a key depth piece to an extension on Sunday.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported the franchise signed Jaylin Williams to a three-year extension worth $24 million. As part of the new deal the Thunder will turn down Williams's $2.1 million player option for next season and replace it with his new $8 million salary to immediately start his new contract.
It is a nice payday for Williams, who didn't play much during the Thunder's championship run but certainly made a name for himself during the celebrations. The Arkansas product was picked in the second round of the 2022 NBA draft and wound up starting 36 games for Oklahoma City as a rookie. His playing time decreased in the following season as he came off the bench. This year, the signing of Isaiah Hartenstein limited opportunities for Williams and on top of that he suffered a hamstring strain that kept him sidelined for the first few months of the year.
For 2024-25, Williams appeared in 47 games and averaged 5.9 points in 16.7 minutes per game. He appeared in all seven games of the Thunder's second-round war with the Denver Nuggets this postseason but was otherwise largely a non-factor for the eventual champs.
Clearly the Thunder like what he brings to the table, though, even if he hasn't been relied upon for heavy minutes. A good birthday present for the young forward, who turned 23 the same day he signed the extension.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Thunder Sign Jaylin Williams to Three-Year Extension Ahead of Free Agency.