As many have seen by now, Patrick Williams and the Chicago Bulls could not reach a long-term agreement before Monday night's deadline. The rookie contracts of the 2020 class are set to expire in the summer of 2024, and teams were able to negotiate exclusively with their respective selections up until last night at 6:00 PM Eastern time. Any player in that class who has not reached an extension will now enter restricted free agency, including Chicago's former fourth-overall selection Williams. When asked about not having inked a deal just hours before the looming deadline, the young forward had a very clear message for the Bulls' faithful.
Moving From Good To Great
Per NBC Chicago's K.C. Johnson, Patrick Williams said regarding the absence of a long-term agreement that it'll be "easy" to move past it and focus on the task at hand. That task? Moving from "good to great," in his words.
Averaging a career-best 10.2 points per game a season ago, Williams will look to take another leap offensively. His value is difficult to quantify, being mainly beyond the box score. He's been the team's best individual defender since entering the league three seasons ago, his catch-and-shoot ability has noticeably improved year-to-year with a 2.1% three-point percentage bump since 2020, and his aggressiveness attacking the rim has slowly become the standard throughout his 170 career games. Having started 145 of his 170 appearances for the Bulls, he's been a pivotal part of this franchise since being drafted.
Flashes Of Potential
Patrick Williams has had a roller coaster of a career, with several cases of being benched due to his lack of effort or failure to execute what head coach Billy Donovan has instructed of him, but also instances like last Sunday's preseason game where he pours in 20 points on 57% shooting from the field. Williams has shown impressive offensive potential in many cases where starters are either being rested or several are injured. He's scored 20 points or more eight times, including twice in the playoffs.
His playoff resume mirrors his career, which is very sporadic. In two games, he scored 20 or more on over 50% shooting; in two others, he scored a combined six points on 1-for-12 from the field. He's confident his career speaks for itself in earning a lucrative payday this summer.
Now Or Never
Much like many members of the Chicago Bulls organization, this year will largely determine the 22-year-old's fate in the NBA. Whether it's earning the massive deal he's seeking or possibly even heading elsewhere this summer, Williams will be playing for his future over the next six months. As many Bulls have echoed throughout the preseason, winning cures all. Much of Williams' value and market is currently unknown, and with such drastic differences between his best product and his most lackluster one, time will only tell which one earns his next contract. Donovan has had similar questions regarding his young forward's potential, yet simultaneous lapses in effort.
Safe to say, the jury is still out on whether or not Patrick Williams has convinced the Chicago Bulls that he's worthy of a future investment.
If he's headed elsewhere this summer, does he become the biggest draft bust in Bulls' history?
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