Why Grant Williams Would Make Sense for OKC Thunder

Even though he played a minor bench role in most games, Grant Williams became the center of attention in multiple games throughout the Eastern Conference Finals. His back-and-forth banter with Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler caused the cold blooded killer to takeover games — and even though Williams did his best on both ends, nobody on the Celtics roster could slow him down.

What people failed to realize, though, is that Williams was the only one scoring for Boston, despite igniting a fire in Butler. Boston’s stars didn’t come to play and Williams obviously couldn’t take on the Eastern Conference Finals MVP on his own. WIlliams has serious value still, and his tenacity, mindset and corner 3-point shooting would be a solid addition in Oklahoma City.

The 6-foot-6 forward had his best statistical season in Boston, appearing in 79 games as a key contributor on a team a game away from the NBA Finals. He averaged 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 26 minutes per game. His outside shooting is an overlooked part of his game, as he shot 39.5% from 3-point distance and 41.1% in 2021-22.

For reference, Oklahoma City’s sharpshooter Isaiah Joe finished the season at a 40.9% clip from long range, while rookie Jaylin Williams ended at 40.7% on 2.5 triples attempted per game. Grant Williams would immediately become Oklahoma City’s second or third best option from downtown.

With Chet Holmgren’s addition to the lineup, the Thunder do add much more length, rim protection and outside shooting prowess — but Williams could be a solid compliment to the Thunder’s former No. 2 pick. He’s a high IQ player that could clear out the lane for Holmgren by making opposing teams step out to the corner and guard.

After a promising rookie season, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl seemed like a valuable, steady forward piece in any capacity for the Thunder. After an ankle injury and a very rocky sophomore slump, though, OKC could look to add consistency at the position to shore up holes in the front court. While Williams certainly wouldn’t mask everything, he’d be a solid investment for the Thunder’s future and his ceiling could be higher than expected with extended opportunity.

Oklahoma City is trending in the right direction towards winning basketball, but the team isn’t quite expected to contend yet. Taking a chance on players to prove it in an ideal basketball situation would be a solid move for the team, and Williams aligns with Oklahoma City’s timeline. He brings intensity to the floor and would fit in with the Thunder’s core if they choose to add anyone on the market this summer.