Possibly the most disappointing Chicago Bull in the last decade is Patrick Williams. The fifth-year starter has yet to show substantial growth in any area of his game, continues to fall short in the same areas as his rookie campaign, and is constantly scrutinized for the same flaws as each of the last four years. This offseason, Arturas Karnisovas inked his former top-five draft selection to a five-year, $90 million contract with much of Chicago's fanbase confused and upset. Only two months into the new deal, he's already been posted on the trade block with reports that the Bulls are finally ready to move on from the former Florida State Seminole. Karnisovas couldn't cast a much longer line of faith to his first draft choice with the organization, and Williams never took advantage. Now, with his name littering trade rumors throughout the last few weeks that'll surely continue over the next ten days leading into the trade deadline, his lackluster play has continued. Here's what he had to say regarding his slump and the growing doubt that he belongs on the NBA stage.
Staying Confident Throughout His Slump
Williams had a simple answer when asked where his confidence is amid the trade buzz and a string of horrendous performances this month: "I got game." The 23-year-old forward has never lacked self-confidence, but the notion of a potential trade may have rattled his output. He's on pace for his lowest-scoring season as a professional with the worst field goal percentage, three-point percentage, and least rebounds he's had in five years as a Bull. It's hard to find another player league-wide who continues to start nightly while averaging nine points per game with 37% shooting from the field and 35% from three-point land. If the argument is his defense, Chicago is among the worst teams defensively. Plus, off the bench, his counterpart Matas Buzelis owns a better opposing field goal percentage against and a higher blocked shot rate with more blocked shots despite under half the minutes played. Why is Williams still starting?
Patrick Williams remains confident despite struggles this season pic.twitter.com/BXvEB2ajgN
— CHGO Bulls (@CHGO_Bulls) January 26, 2025
Get Out Of That Contract ASAP
If any trade deadline buyers are willing to take a flyer on Williams, take the deal immediately. Not only is he failing to contribute to winning basketball games, he's eating potential minutes that could be spent on developing younger assets and absorbing $18 million annually over the next five years. Williams has the worst plus-minus on the team by over 30 points of the next closest man. How many metrics must expose how detrimental he has been to the franchise before the front office addresses it?
Patrick Williams is officially a bust:
— Die-Hard Chicago Bulls Fans (@DieHardCBfans) January 9, 2025
Year 1: 9.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 48% FG
Year 2: 9.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 52% FG
Year 3: 10.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 46% FG
Year 4: 10.0 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 44% FG
YEAR 5: 9.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 39% FG
Yet the Bulls paid him $90M 💀 pic.twitter.com/YGvzy7wALc
Can Williams put up a few solid performances over the next several days to entice a neighboring franchise to trade for him? If the Bulls have an opportunity to move him over the next ten days, they should pull the trigger immediately.
