Laughter, mockery, confusion, and shock. That's how many would describe the instant reaction to Chicago's fourth-year forward requesting a contract extension in the ballpark of his fellow draft class members LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and Tyrese Haliburton. While $200 million over five years is lucrative for any player, let alone one under 25, Williams doesn't quite have the resume of the other three to justify that sort of payday. While the others have been named to the NBA's All-Rookie First Team, each has an All-Star selection and averaged over 20 points per game for at least one season, Williams has none of the above. Has recency bias snuck his name back into the conversation for a possible new deal, or has December been a fluke for the 22-year-old?
Dreadful Start To 2023
So far this season, the Bulls have played two full months of basketball. In October, they played five games where Williams was sluggish out of the gates, averaging five points, three rebounds, and one assist per outing. In 16 appearances in November, including a stretch where he was moved to the bench, the boos started reigning down on the young forward from Florida State. He averaged only 8.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game and only shot 41% from the field and 36% from three-point land. His contract demands were becoming more laughable with each passing performance, and he was destined for free agency in the summer of 2024.
Completely New Player
December was a turning of the tides for the youngster, aligning with the injury to Zach LaVine. Williams was reinserted into the starting five and hasn't looked back since. In 13 games during December, he has averaged 14.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per outing. The most impressive improvement has been the efficiency. While attempting three more shots from the field and one more three-point field goal per game, he's shooting 51.9% overall and a blistering 51.0% from three-point territory. While these figures still don't scratch the three All-Star comparisons from his draft class, they certainly warrant a reconsideration of a contract extension just beneath the superstar trio.
While Williams won't likely reach the scoring figures of the most expensive contracts among his fellow draft class members, his defensive capabilities and three-point efficiency have earned a future in the NBA. They could see his return to the Bulls at the right price, similar to Coby White, who was subjected to restricted free agency and saw Chicago match a contract offer that eventually returned the Tar Heel guard on a 3-year, $33 million extension.
Has the general opinion on the fourth-year forward shifted, or has December been a flash in the pan for Williams? Chicago fans may need to start drafting the apology letter now if he continues his pace over the last 30 days. With his improvement in play, Chicago has also reverted a 4-12 month of November into a successful 8-5 December.
