1) Bold predictions for Chicago Bulls F Patrick Williams
Will replace Lauri Markkanen in starting five by season’s end
With the addition of Williams to the frontcourt rotation for the Bulls naturally comes more pressure on the shoulders of fourth-year former Arizona Wildcats seven-footer and 23-year-old power forward Lauri Markkanen this season. There was going to be a lot of pressure on Markkanen’s shoulders as is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Now that Williams will be lurking in his shadow on the power forward depth chart, in all likelihood at the outset of this regular season, Markkanen will really have to perform well out of the gates. All in all, this could be a really good driving factor in Markkanen’s game since something will have to give compared to how he produced last season.
Markkanen’s third year in the NBA was likely his worst in terms of per game stats and advanced metrics. He did stay healthier than usual, which is a good sign. But this season he needs to parlay this new opportunity in the final year of his rookie contract with a possible cleaner bill of health to prove he will be valuable to this rebuild over the long haul.
There is a chance that Williams could slot at the three for the future, over veteran small forward Otto Porter Jr. But that would be a potentially clunky lineup for Donovan, running Williams alongside Markkanen and center Wendell Carter Jr. There is a greater likelihood that Williams would battle with Markkanen for the starting spot at the four.