1) Why Chicago Bulls F Pat Williams can win ROY
Fit with the rest of this young core
The fit that Williams has alongside the other key pieces in this Bulls young core looks pretty seamless at this point in time. Williams didn’t look like a perfect fit with the current top end of the rotation when he was drafted last month, but Karnisovas and Donovan saw Bulls fans change their minds on that pretty fast.
Williams helped the ball movement, pace in transition, and defensive efficiency as a team when on the floor in the last two preseason games. He was thought to have to take longer to develop his shooting ability, especially from range, along with a lot of his off-ball movement on both ends of the floor. But he’s an easy find for other high usage players like LaVine and White. And that bodes well for the direction of this rebuild.
Moreover, Williams might not need to be a stat sheet filler for the Bulls during his first year in the NBA to win Rookie of the Year. He will have to be efficient and put up solid per game stats, though, if he wants to remain in contention for these honors. Even if he doesn’t get Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie Team honors should be well within reach for him.
Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant won the Rookie of the Year honors last season after he figured out the natural fit in that young core alongside forward Brandon Clarke and big man Jaren Jackson Jr. If Williams can find a similar fit with this Bulls young core, his game could really take off from the outset of the 2020-21 regular season.