The reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder have secured new contracts for two key role players. According to ESPN, center Jaylin Williams has agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $24 million. In addition, guard Ajay Mitchell is signing a new three-year deal valued at nearly $9 million.
The extension for Williams is another move towards maintaining the core of the team`s championship roster. Notably, all 15 players returning from the 2025 title-winning squad are under contract through at least the 2025-26 season. The Thunder had initially declined the $2.1 million team option on Williams` previous contract while negotiations for this new agreement were underway.
Despite playing limited minutes in the NBA Finals showdown against the Indiana Pacers (just 14 total), Williams posted career-high averages of 5.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game over the season. He provided more significant contributions off the bench during Oklahoma City`s Western Conference semifinals series against the Denver Nuggets, often matched up against three-time MVP Nikola Jokić. Williams averaged 10.6 minutes per game in that series.
Ajay Mitchell was selected by Oklahoma City as the 38th overall pick in last year`s draft after playing at UC Santa Barbara. Similar to Williams, the Thunder declined the team option on his initial contract this offseason before finalizing a new deal. In 36 games played last season, Mitchell averaged 6.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. He saw a total of 20 minutes of action during the NBA Finals run.
While key starters like Chet Holmgren and 2025 All-Star Jalen Williams are still on their rookie contracts expiring after next season, and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is entering the fourth year of his five-year deal with potential supermax eligibility looming, the team is proactively managing their roster. The signings of Williams and Mitchell help solidify their depth, particularly in the frontcourt, and provide better clarity on their future salary structure ahead of potentially larger contract decisions down the road.
Jasper Hawthorne