The Bulls‘ 2017 lottery pick, Lauri Markkanen, spent his first four NBA seasons with the organization, but didn’t break out until two years later in Utah, well after Chicago signed-and-traded him away for a fairly modest return.
Head coach Billy Donovan doesn’t anticipate the team taking the same route with former No. 4 overall pick Patrick Williams, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times (subscription required). While the fourth-year forward has yet to break out and was recently pulled from the starting lineup, the Bulls remain committed to giving him every chance to figure things out.
“I do know that the goal is to have Patrick here for the long term,” Donovan said. “That I would say has been pretty consistent all the way through.
“Do I think Patrick needs a change of scenery? I didn’t think Lauri needed a change of scenery, that was my opinion. I’m not surprised what he evolved into. He kind of went to a couple different places. Sometimes when you go through that you look internally too where, ‘Geez, I’m in Chicago, I’m in Cleveland, now I’m in Utah, like I’ve got to figure some stuff out here.’ And I think Patrick is pretty driven on figuring things out.
“I’ve got nothing at all from him where he’s like, ‘Hey, I need a change of scenery.’ There’s been none of that. He’s really good in determining what he needs to do, instead of point around and saying, ‘I need this, I need that.’ When guys get like that it never goes well.”
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- Williams reciprocates Chicago’s interest in a long-term relationship, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. “I love it. I love it here. I love the city, I love the team. I love what we’re about,” he said on Monday. “We’re about winning. There’s no gimmicks. There’s no moral victories over here. Obviously, I love it.” The former No. 4 pick, who didn’t sign a rookie scale extension this offseason, admits he’d like “a big contract” eventually but says that’s not his priority right now. “My main focus now is helping this team get over the next hump and myself over that hump,” Williams said.
- Donovan and the Bulls recently mulled the idea of moving Alex Caruso into the starting five, but decided against it in part because they want to manage his minutes and keep him within the 26-to-28 minute range, Cowley writes for The Sun-Times.
- Coby White hasn’t just claimed the Bulls’ starting point guard job by default this fall, Cowley says in another Sun-Times story. White has also shown that he’s capable of being an “on-the-court general who is not afraid to use his voice,” Cowley writes, pointing to the 23-year-old’s evolution into a vocal leader.
- After placing 24th in offensive rating last season, the Bulls brought back a similar roster but hoped to improve that ranking by changing their offensive approach. As NBC Sports Chicago notes, the results have been underwhelming so far. Even after a 130-point outburst on Monday vs. Utah, Chicago is just 19th in offensive rating this season.
Patrick Williams is one of the worst players I have ever seen, he brings nothing to the table except timid nothingness and of course the Bulls won’t admit he’s a bust but it is clear and any extension beyond Coby Whites would be foolish
I think Chi is lockstep with you and when the timings right (next summer) their actions will mirror your thoughts
It would do them no favors to speak out as you are today
I agree that he’s too timid but imo it’s too early to label him a bust. Just look at Lauri. I think pats issue is that he’s best suited to play the 3, the bulls should trade their big 3 (and Caruso, Drummond, etc) and rebuild around pat, coby, and ayo along w whatever picks they get back
People all have this misconception that Lauri wasn’t ever good as a Bull. The dude had several 15-25 point performances regularly with 6-8 rebounds and a couple assists and was poised to break out even further before Jim Boylen only used him as a decoy sitting around the 3-point line.
Lauri was rly good as a rookie but def regressed to the point where ppl didn’t see the trade that sent him to the cavs as a bad deal for the bulls
I mean, he “regressed” because Boylen kept pigeonholing him into being a glorified Davis Bertans. Just stand in the corner and shoot. That’s not how you develop.
I agree it was completely boylens fault. Doesn’t mean it didn’t happen tho, it is what it is unfortunately for the bulls
I feel like it’s time to just blow it up and rebuild. P-Will is still super young so I’ll hold on to him but this roster is built to be one and done in the play-in
So now he’s worming his out of trading Markkanen. OKC had the most talent in the NBA during his tenure as coach. He didn’t see that either.
Bulls have issues cause of Ball injury. And not playing Williams at the 3. Cause DeR and Zach have to start.
DeR to Knicks solves this. Rose wake up and get it done.
I happen to agree, they need a true floor general, and Colby White ain’t it.
He just doesn’t have the floor vision that’s required to be a good PG, and I’m not so sure that’s really something you can develop. I mean, he’s gotten better at it, but the bar was extremely low. He’s an inconsistent 6th man/sparkplug type at his best.
The Bulls need to let go of DDR, move Patrick Williams to the 3, find a true PG, and ACQUIRE AN ACTUAL 4, because they don’t have a single one on their entire roster!
Until they do this they’ll continue to be an up and down mediocre team with a limited ceiling.