Not playing! The max-contract guard withdraws from Game 7! Thunder's 1-for-4 trade proposal exposed

Confirmed, Thunder's second-in-command Jalen Williams withdraws from Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals...

Actually, considering his physical state, sitting out is favorable for the Thunder. He played about 10 minutes as a substitute in Western Conference Finals Game 6, shot 0-for-1 from the floor, only managed 1 point from free throws with 1 assist and 2 turnovers, and recorded a -18 plus-minus. The team suffered a 91-118 road loss to the Spurs. He left the arena after the game without any media interviews.

Jalen Williams was born on April 14, 2001. He is a 1.96m tall swingman with a 2.19m wingspan. Drafted 12th overall in the first round of the 2022 class, he helped the Thunder win their first championship last summer and then signed a massive five-year, $239 million contract, reaching the peak of his career.

However, the good times didn't last. This season, Jalen Williams has been troubled by injuries, particularly a hamstring strain. He has played only 38 games total so far in the regular season and playoffs, inevitably becoming the center of trade rumors. The consensus is that the Thunder will move him before his max contract officially kicks in for the 2026-27 season.

Recently, US media outlet NBA Central shared a trade proposal from ESPN, as follows:

The Nets get Jalen Williams; the Thunder get Michael Porter Jr., a 2027 first-round pick, a 2029 first-round pick, and a 2031 first-round pick.

Michael Porter Jr., a key forward for the Nuggets' 2023 championship, has completely unleashed himself this season after bringing his talents to the Nets. He started all 52 regular-season games, averaging 32.5 minutes per game and putting up 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.1 steals, while knocking down 3.4 three-pointers per game at a 36.3% clip. Several of those numbers are career highs.

Notably, next season is Porter's contract year with a salary of $40.81 million (only $12 million guaranteed). This means that after the Thunder acquire him, they can part ways with him in the summer of 2027 at no cost, and most importantly, they get to shed Jalen Williams' long-term max deal.

In short, it's easy to imagine that regardless of whether the Thunder repeat as champions this season, they will make major moves during this summer's offseason. It's expected that the "Alexander + Chet + Jalen Williams" big three will no longer exist.