Chicago Bulls: 3 emerging stars that can help lead to the playoffs

2) Chicago Bulls players that can help push for the playoffs

Patrick Williams, Forward

Another key piece of the Bulls young core that is coming through in a big way of late is the former Florida State Seminoles ACC Sixth Man of the Year award winner and rookie forward Patrick Williams. The 6-foot-7 and 215 pound 19-year-old North Carolina native was inconsistent out of the gates for the Bulls this season, but is finding more stability in his game of late.

This potent two-way forward has played in 23 games for the Bulls so far this season (starting in all of them), averaging around 27 minutes on the floor per game. And with the veteran small forward Otto Porter Jr. still out due to nagging injury issues, the importance of Williams to the wing/forward rotation has become even more paramount of late.

Moreover, Williams has averaged 10.3 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.7 blocks. He’s shot 46.6 percent from the field, 39.6 percent from beyond the arc, and 80.0 percent from the free-throw line.

That all has amounted to a rather poor -4.1 box plus/minus rating, .044 win shares per 48 minutes, 0.6 total win shares, -0.3 value over replacement player rating, 103 offensive rating/113 defensive rating, 56.2 true shooting percentage, and a 10.1 player efficiency rating.

The per game stats and all-encompassing advanced metrics don’t really do Williams’ value to this rotation justice. He is an efficient shooter so far this season and is usually drawing the toughest defensive matchup for the Bulls game in and game out.