By mastering aggressive rim runs and added physicality, the versatile big man can evolve from a reliable spacer into a dynamic offensive weapon for Oklahoma City.
Jaylin Williams doesn’t need to completely change his game this offseason. In fact, that would probably be the wrong approach.
The Oklahoma City Thunder already know what they have in Williams. He’s a smart player who does a little bit of everything. He can knock down threes, move the ball, set screens, rebound and defend multiple positions. He’s also one of those players who seems to understand where he needs to be on the floor without needing the ball in his hands all the time.
That’s valuable on a team like Oklahoma City.
Still, there are a few areas where Williams can take another step, and the biggest one is becoming more dangerous around the basket.
Williams has become a respectable three point shooter, and that has made him useful offensively. But there are times when defenses are willing to live with him doing everything except attacking the rim.
If he can become more comfortable putting the ball on the floor, getting into the paint and finishing through contact, it would give him another way to hurt teams.
It would also make everything else he already does better.
Williams is really good in dribble handoff situations. He has the passing ability to make plays when the defense reacts, and he has enough shooting ability to make teams pay when they go under screens. But becoming a more aggressive roller would give Oklahoma City another wrinkle.
Instead of always popping out or handing the ball off, Williams could force defenders to worry about him diving toward the basket. That could create easy scoring opportunities for him while also opening things up for Oklahoma City’s guards.
Adding some strength should also be on his offseason checklist.
Williams has never needed to be a traditional bruising center. His ability to move his feet and defend different types of players is part of what makes him valuable. But getting stronger would help him deal with bigger centers, finish through contact and hold his position better on the glass.
Defensively, Williams has already shown plenty of growth. He understands Oklahoma City’s system and has become more comfortable switching onto different players.
The next step is continuing to improve his positioning and physicality while becoming even more consistent. There’s also a chance Williams could benefit from spending more time at power forward.
The Thunder have added more traditional size to their roster, which could mean Williams isn’t always needed to play center. If he can become comfortable defending fours while still providing the same shooting and passing he has shown at center, it gives Oklahoma City another way to use him.
And then there’s the three point shot.
Williams doesn’t need to become a guy who takes 10 threes a night. He just needs to remain reliable enough that defenses can’t ignore him. If teams have to stay attached to him on the perimeter while also worrying about him rolling to the basket, Williams becomes a much tougher player to scheme against.
That’s really what this offseason should be about. Williams doesn’t need to become somebody else. He just needs to add a few more things to what he already does well.
If he can become a better finisher, a more dangerous roller and a little stronger defensively, he could become an even more important part of the Thunder’s rotation. His versatility is already what makes him valuable.
Now, it’s about finding ways to make that versatility even more difficult for opponents to deal with.
