Jan 18, 2023; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) shoots against Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder have taken the first step toward keeping their roster together, agreeing with center/forward Jaylin Williams on a multi-year contract extension on the big man’s 23rd birthday.
The team did not announce terms or other specifics of the deal, but it is a three-year, $24 million contract extension, ESPN reported Sunday.
The Thunder held a $2.1 million option for the 2025-26 season, which it declined in favor of the extension. ESPN reported the third year of the new deal also is a team option.
Williams was entering the final season of a four-year, $8.2 million contract.
Later Sunday, ESPN reported that the Thunder intended to sign guard Ajay Mitchell to a three-year deal after previously declining his option.
The deal, expected to be worth nearly $9 million, would retain another key piece of the Thunder’s championship roster.
The Thunder selected Williams in the second round (No. 34 overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft out of Arkansas. The 6-foot-8 Williams was limited because of injuries to 47 games (nine starts) in the recently completed season, in which he averaged 5.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
He has career averages of 5.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 165 games (46 starts).
Mitchell, a second-round choice of the New York Knicks in the 2024 draft immediately traded to Oklahoma City, appeared in 36 games for the Thunder this season in a reserve role.
Mitchell, a 23-year-old product of Belgium by way of UC Santa Barbara, averaged 6.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in his rookie season.
–Field Level Media
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