Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has decided to explore trade opportunities involving Patrick Williams, a source tells Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.
The 23-year-old power forward has experienced a decline in production during his fifth NBA season, averaging 9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists through 32 games while shooting career lows from the field (37.7%) and three-point range (36.2%).
Williams has been viewed as a project since Chicago selected him with the fourth pick in the 2020 draft. The source tells Cowley that Williams “hasn’t been easy to work with,” explaining that his attitude has been fine, but he hasn’t been comfortable enough with his role to buy into what the coaches are telling him.
Cowley explains that assistant coaches are typically assigned to certain players, and there have been “frustrations” on both sides with some of Williams’ matchups. Director of player development Peter Patton has taken over those duties this season, Cowley adds, and it seemed as though Williams was responding when he averaged 11.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in November.
However, through nine games in January, Williams’ numbers are down to 6.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per night. Head coach Billy Donovan has been reducing his playing time, and he was on the court for just 17 minutes in Friday’s home loss to Charlotte, finishing with five points, no rebounds and a -17 plus/minus rating.
“I don’t want to use the word concerned, but I think Patrick’s heart is in a really good place as it relates to our team, and I think he really wants to do well,” Donovan told reporters after the game. “I think the one thing he will continue to get better at, and I think I mentioned to you guys that in closeouts, and I think the next iteration, the next part of it, at least offensively, is going to end up being, ‘What are the ones I need to go in and finish, what are the ones I need to spray out? And when I do spray it out, taking care of the ball?’ The other part of it too, for our team, we need more rebounding from him. I think he’s made the effort to try and go there, but we probably need to get a little more out of him. But I’m not concerned about him. I know this stretch for him has not been good, but he has had moments where he has been pretty good. I think he does work, I think he’s a good player. He’s up in a tough stretch right now. He’s still going through a maturation process offensively.”
The decision to trade Williams comes roughly six months after the Bulls gave him a five-year, $90MM extension. As Cowley notes, Williams was a restricted free agent last summer, so Karnisovas could have let him seek an offer from a rival team and then decide whether it was in his best interest to match it. Instead, he rewarded Williams with a long-term deal that will pay him $18MM each season, including a player option for 2028/29. Given Williams’ recent production, there may not be many teams willing to take on that contract without an incentive attached.
Williams becomes the latest rumored trade target ahead of what could be an active deadline in Chicago. The Bulls are reportedly also looking to move Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and possibly Lonzo Ball.
Anyone taking that contract on without significant pick compensation or swapping an equally terrible deal are idiots. Genuinely was a head scratching contract at the time but didn’t think it would look bad as quickly as it did
Honestly, he is very clearly not a Power Forward and insisting that he plays like that is weird, specially when they make him play like that to fit LaVine and previously Derozan in the lineup. A young team should gamble on him, maybe the Kings they have been needing a wing. Or maybe the cavs.
The Bulls could flip him to Phoenix for Josef Nurkic.
And now they finally give up. Should’ve done it after year three.
Who’s taking him without sweeteners attached? And a rebuilding team is better off just hoping the 23 year old guy figures it out vs. attaching value to dump the contract. Only thing left to do is keep him and see what a year or two brings.
Donovan is not very good at unlocking players potential,he always played ready to go stars.PW will end up like Markannen,Bulls will give him away for nothing,he’ll be worth 1 or 2 FRP’s under proper coaching next season
Didn’t make sense to give that contract much like Denver giving Nnaji his. Not sure why teams give the contracts early when they have rfa. Do what Cavs did with Okoro let them test fa they will see no market for them and you get them back less cap tied into them.
Williams can be another OG type player. Bulls don’t even know he’s a 3. It’s why they can’t develop him. He should definitely go somewhere else. If he wants to reach his potential.
i like pdub. i think he can be unlocked in the right system
Why was he ever drafted at 4?
Good luck
Just another sign of how terrible the Chicago Bulls are being run by their GM.
You start off by saying “Williams hasn’t been easy to work with” and even before signing his extension i remember the Zach Lowe speculation “I’m hearing Patrick Williams wants big, big numbers for his next contract… like, starts with a 2 and isn’t $20M,”
Being a restricted free agent they should’ve let him test his value on the market and then decide to match it. That could’ve saved them being in this position 6 months later on being like Uh Oh let’s try trade him.
Everyone has noticed there’s been no on court development in 5 years since drafting him. His pre draft comparison was Kawhi Leonard hence being drafted 4th overall and even since being drafted both LeBron James and DeMare DeRozan have made that comparison. Known for his on ball defence and ability to shoot from deep and from the midrange he’s just never really gotten any better. It really reminds me of Lauri Markeneen who never got developed correctly and upon leaving Chicago became an all star and franchise player for Utah.
The crazy part is whatever NBA team that trades for him will get extra compensation because of his contract and then likely moves him into the SF position and develops him correctly into a really good 3 and D player. They’ll give up unwanted bad money, get back a pick and get a really good role player and again make the Bulls look like idiots. He’s still a career 40% career shooter from 3 and only 23. He’s basically the cheaper, more long term plan alternative to Cam Johnson.
Could be a good target for a bunch of teams, Sacramento for Heuter would be a good idea. Pheonix would be good if they got rid of Nurkic.
San Antonio would be a good spot (especially as they developed Kawhi). Toronto and Portland make sense, Utah maybe …