Although he has been in and out of the Thunder’s rotation, Jaylin Williams is a capable backup center who shoots 38.7% from the field. That is not good. Kenrich Williams can be used as a small ball center by Oklahoma City as an alternative. More players are needed in that frontcourt. Fortunately, there are at least two affordable possibilities. See whether they fit together.For the most part of his career, Danilo Gallinari has switched between the small forward and power forward positions, but the last two seasons have seen a change in that dynamic.
36% of Gallinari’s minutes during the 2020–21 Atlanta Hawks season were spent at center. Before that season, he had never finished above 2% in any season. After missing the entire 2022–2023 season due to injuries, that percentage dipped to 24% in the campaign that followed, but it has risen dramatically this season. Gallinari has played the five position in 79% of his minutes this season.
Opponents are shooting 71.9% at the rim on shots Gallinari contests according to NBA.com. The majority of players are around him are guards. But Oklahoma City does have stout defenders all over the floor that could take some pressure off of Gallinari (he couldn’t say the same when he was in Washington).There may be defensive limitations, but Gallinari can still shoot the rock and allow the Thunder to play the five-out style on offense they’ve played all year long. He’s shot 35.5% from three this year. That’s low for his standards, but he is a career 38.2% shooter from distance.In contrast, Kelly Olynyk, who was often associated with the Thunder prior to his trade to the Toronto Raptors, has a career three-point shooting percentage of 37% on less attempts.
The final factor is familiarity with both sides. Before joining the Hawks in free agency, Gallinari played for Oklahoma City for one season. He played with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort and made it to the playoffs with the Thunder in the bubble. Mark Daigneault, the head coach, was an assistant then. Gallinari might decide to return and support this Thunder team because of his familiarity and his position on a legitimate contender.
