Would the Thunder Trade Jalen Williams? 3 Teams to Watch

Jalen Williams is a great player, but is he a legitimate superstar?

That is what the Oklahoma City Thunder will be asking themselves this summer with three huge contracts on the horizon: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Williams.

While the back-to-back league MVP Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t being moved, the security isn’t the same with Holmgren or Williams. While Thunder fans would most likely prefer Holmgren to be moved in this hypothetical scenario, it could be Williams who is moved, given his higher value and Holmgren’s size being harder to replace.

If the Thunder did trade J-Dub this offseason, where could he go? Here are three teams that might give the Thunder an offer they can’t refuse if they hope to keep their depth intact moving forward.

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Minnesota Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards needs a second-in-command, and there might not be a better fit than Williams. Minnesota watched as its lack of a secondary punch alongside Edwards cost it another chance at the NBA Finals, and Williams is only four months older than the Timberwolves ace.

If they could keep Gobert and have the two scorers entering their prime together, maybe that’s what it would take to finally win the West.

Chicago Bulls

Would the Bulls pull the trigger on moving their fourth overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft for Williams?

On the one hand, Williams could be an instant star in Chicago, pair well with Josh Giddey, and still fit the timeline for a rebuilding Bulls squad.

On the other hand, it could come off as complete desperation for a franchise that has needed a reset for over a decade now and has been stuck in mediocre purgatory. Even if Williams is great, would it be any different than when Zach LaVine was putting up 25 a game for a Bulls team going nowhere?

Brooklyn Nets

ESPN NBA insiders projected this trade a week ago when the Oklahoma City Thunder were still in the playoffs.

It would be a move for the Thunder to cut salary and continue building through the draft before all of their heavy salary extensions kick in, and it’d give the Nets a legitimate player to build around.

For the Nets, who seem stuck in perennial darkness and misery, Williams most likely wouldn’t do much to change the overall grand scheme of things, but would at least put up a lot of points and maybe sell some jerseys.

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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 3:32 PM.