NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bulls have several tough decisions to make this offseason, and one will be the future of Patrick Williams.
Nobody can deny that the former No. 4 overall pick has had an underwhelming start to his career. Not only has he played 43 games or fewer in two of his first four seasons, but he’s also averaged nearly identical numbers each year with the Bulls. The growth hasn’t been there in the way that many expected, and this is precisely why he’s in line to hit restricted free agency after failing to come to an agreement on an extension last season.
Still, if the Chicago Bulls have learned anything in recent years, it’s that you shouldn’t give up on young talent too early. Bulls fans have watched Lauri Markkanen go on to make an All-Star game and Daniel Gafford become a sought-after role player. Heck, Coby White is also fresh off a breakout season that nearly won him the league’s Most Improved Player award. Development isn’t always linear, and there remains a lot to like about Williams. But don’t take my word for it.
As free agency nears, a new report from The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry has one of the NBA’s premier front offices zeroing in on Williams.
“If the Bulls have seen enough of the Williams experiment, one team that has great interest, a league source said, is Oklahoma City. The Thunder need more size, and they have an army of draft picks that can sweeten the pot for the Bulls if a sign-and-trade emerges in July.”
Be sure to read Mayberry’s full article here, which features a couple other noteworthy reports.
Is OKC a Threat to Steal Patrick Williams?
Let’s first make one thing clear – the Bulls have complete control over whether or not Patrick Williams stays in Chicago. Restricted free agency gives the front office the right to match any offer sheet that is thrown the forward’s way.
Having said that, it’s not like the Oklahoma City Thunder can’t put real pressure on Artuars Karnisovas. Spotrac puts the organization’s projected practical cap space at $35.2 million this summer, which is the fifth-most in the NBA. All things considered, that’s pretty unheard of for a franchise that just finished No. 1 in their respective conference.
The Thunder have built a remarkably impressive young core that just finished at the top of the Western Conference. While they ended up losing to the Finals-bound Dallas Mavericks in a competitive second round, they undoubtedly did enough this season to show they’re a true contender moving forward. And that’s why their “great interest” in someone like Williams makes all the sense in the world.
The 22-year-old would fit perfectly within the team’s current timeline. Not to mention, he would only bolster a defense that finished top-3 in the NBA during the regular season. While there are still some questions about Williams’ offensive potential, there are far fewer about his versatile defensive presence. Every contending team in the league would love a six-foot-seven explosive wing defender who can guard multiple positions.
OKC likely also feels pretty good about Williams’ offensive role. Playing behind guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, there will be far less pressure on him to contribute on that end of the floor. Plus, he’s already proven to be an above-average 3-point shooter. It’s easy to forget that Williams has shot 41.0 percent from long range over his career, and he’d surely find himself with his fair share of open looks in Oklahoma City.
I think it’s significant that Mayberry doesn’t merely drop the Thunder as a possible suitor here. He describes their interest as “great” and even mentions their slew of draft picks as a possible sign-and-trade sweetener. Especially when we consider Mayberry used to cover the Thunder for The Athletic (and spent some time there again covering them this postseason), this mention feels like more than just your average rumor.
So how aggressive might the Thunder be in this Williams pursuit? Well, I guess we’ll find out in only a few short weeks. If I had to guess, the Bulls try to settle things before allowing any other teams to get involved with an offer sheet. But, knowing there is strong interest out there, Williams’ camp could always play hardball and force Chicago to allow the free agent market to set the price. That’s when the Thunder could make things really interesting.
For what it’s worth, Mayberry did report that Williams’ camp turned down $16 million annually last offseason. While a season-ending foot injury wouldn’t normally bode well for Williams to earn much more than that, the looming interest of a team like OKC could work in their favor to push the number north of that mark. We’ll see.
