NBA Trade Rumor: OKC Thunder Deal Jalen Williams in Trade Proposal

The Oklahoma City Thunder are ready to reload this summer for another chance to get back to the NBA Finals. Sure, they'll have to figure out a way to get past Victor Wembanyama, but in the meantime, they're looking to alleviate themselves from the impending handcuffs of the NBA's dreaded second apron, per Ben Golliver of ESPN.

To that end, Golliver has proposed a deal that would "rebalance the Thunder's books", while hypothetically retaining the scoring skill they'll need to stay at the top, while keeping their asset cupboard more than full.

Brooklyn Nets receive:

Jalen Williams

Oklahoma City Thunder receive:

Michael Porter Jr.
2027 first-round pick
2029 first-round pick
2031 first-round pick

With significant rookie extensions coming for Williams and Chet Holmgren, the Thunder would be in second apron purgatory, severely limiting their transactional flexibility.

Golliver tells us that OKC will be facing some "difficult financial choices come July". This season, Williams, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren combined to make $58.6 million. Next season, because of the aforementioned extensions, that number will explode to $123.8 million.

Why the Thunder would do it

"Given its backcourt depth and the emergence of Ajay Mitchell as a secondary playmaker, Oklahoma City could rebalance its books by sending Williams to the Nets, who desperately need a franchise player and fell to No. 6 in the draft lottery earlier this month," writes Golliver.

It would be a tough blow to break up its exciting young core, but even if Porter Jr. reverts from his 24 ppg this year to the 18 ppg he averaged while serving as a secondary scorer while with the Denver Nuggets, that should just about make up the scoring that Williams would take with him to Brooklyn (if he's healthy).

Why the Nets would do it

Brooklyn needs frontcourt scoring. As Golliver notes, "Brooklyn would need to hope Williams can move past his nagging hamstring injuries, but the 25-year-old wing is a dream target for a rebuilding team."

Williams played just 5 games in these playoffs, and only 33 games all season.