\u2014 Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n In part due to motivations to avoid the NBA second apron threshold of the salary cap, the Thunder have spent the 2026 NBA offseason shedding salary to avoid the draconian penalties that are levied on NBA teams with salary cap payrolls that reside above the second apron value.<\/p>\n The 2026 NBA offseason cost-cutting maneuvers leveraged by the Thunder\u2019s front office, led by executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti, are likely to repeat going into the 2027 NBA offseason as well due to the Thunder\u2019s salary cap spending projecting to return to second apron territory once guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander\u2019s four-year $271.7 million contract extension kicks in, according to Yossi Gozlan of Third Apron.<\/p>\n Oklahoma City Thunder after trading Lu Dort.<\/p>\n They save $100 million and have enough second apron space to sign a 15th player without going over.<\/p>\n They will be in the second apron next season once Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s supermax kicks in. Cason Wallace also extension-eligible. pic.twitter.com\/G6gOfq5GYI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) July 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n This all becomes relevant to the Chicago Bulls when focusing on Thunder big Jaylin Williams, who becomes extension eligible during the 2027 NBA offseason.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Given the Thunder and Presti\u2019s benchmark reputation for front office management, there is a general expectation among the greater NBA community that when Thunder role players don\u2019t receive extensions, it\u2019s all but a foregone conclusion that the player will be traded, according to ESPN\u2019s Brian Windhorst.<\/p>\n Jaylin Williams is a can\u2019t-miss Bulls opportunity<\/p>\n The basic profile of Jaylin Williams alone should pique Bulls lead front office executive Bryson Graham\u2019s interest in acquiring the 6\u20199\u201d 240-pound player who will enter his age 25 season during the final season of his contract during the 2027-28 NBA season.\u00a0<\/p>\n Williams, of course, carries an NBA championship pedigree as part of the Thunder\u2019s 2024-25 NBA title roster, and he also carries great positional versatility to play either power forward or center.<\/p>\n Over his four-year NBA career, all in Oklahoma City, Williams has been a stalwart rotational contributor to the Thunder\u2019s rise to NBA champion status, averaging a career 12.2 points per 36 minutes, 10.2 rebounds per 36 minutes, 1.0 steals per 36 minutes, and 1.0 blocks per 36 minutes according to Basketball Reference.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Also noteworthy is Williams’ ability to contribute as a stretch big<\/a>, shooting a career 38.7% on 6.2 three-point attempts per 36 minutes.<\/p>\n Williams presence with Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis would instantly level<\/a> up the Bulls’ young roster core.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\"){kind=icon}
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