The Chicago Bulls are expected to commit a full fire sale this season to officially commence their rebuilding stage.
After dealing DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade pact to the Sacramento Kings and shopping Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder from the past offseason, the Chicago Bulls have finally signaled throughout the league that they are heading towards prioritizing their long-term outlook. And from this intent, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic are likely heading out as the team’s top trade candidates.
In the midst of the chatter surrounding LaVine and Vucevic, the Bulls are also reportedly compelled to finally part ways with their former lottery sensation.
According to Joe Cowley of The Chicago-Sun Times, the Bulls are now open to exploring a trade possibility for Patrick Williams.
Williams, 23, was drafted by the Bulls for the No. 4 overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft. Coming off a promising freshman year at the Florida State, he amassed tons of expectations amongst Chicago fans with his two-way talent and potential.
But after five seasons, progress has been relatively nonexistent at the side of Williams. He only made a significant develop in his third year back in 2022-23, averaging a career-best 10.2 points. Yet this 2024-25, his numbers have dropped awfully again to 9.3 markers with career lows in field goal shooting (37.7%) and rebounds (3.8).
Health is relatively an issue as well for Williams. The 2022-23 campaign only served as his most durable year after playing for full 82-game regular season. Last year, he only appeared for 43 games due to a left foot stress reaction.
Franchise’s executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas reportedly made the call for Williams as it was revealed that the power forward “hasn’t been easy to work with.”
“As is the case with most NBA teams, individual coaches are matched up with individual players, and there has been frustration on both sides with previous matchups,” Cowley wrote. “The source stressed that Williams hasn’t been volatile or difficult in terms of his behavior. It’s more about him not being completely comfortable to buy in to what’s being communicated.”
The Bulls’ plans to end their commitment with Williams is completely understandable. But it’s worth noting that it might be too late already after extending their ties with the big man from the past offseason.
It has to be acknowledged that the Bulls have notably signed Williams last summer to a five-year, $90-million contract with an $18-million player option in 2028-29. Chicago could have allowed him to walk free as a restricted free agent, but they opted to maintain their partnership with Williams in the long run.
In the end, the Bulls can only scratch their heads out of this circumstance. It is yet to be seen if any other NBA team will eventually express interest in obtaining Williams considering the forward’s stagnant growth and reported adjustment problems.
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