Decision #2: Bulls draft Patrick Williams No. 4 overall in 2020
This one stings. The book isn’t out on Patrick Williams, given his sound (if slow) jumper and physical tools, but he hasn’t grown enough to significantly impact the ceiling of the team. Given time, he could still develop into a player worthy of his draft status, but in the immediate term he’s more Alfred than Batman or Robin.
Unfortunately, few other reasonable picks (players drafted in the next 10-12 selections) could have been made at the time. Isaac Okoro, Onyeka Okongwu, Killian Hayes, Obi Toppin, and Deni Avdija comprise a list of the next five selected players, none of whom have done enough in the NBA as of yet to warrant placement over Pat in a re-draft scenario.
Could the Bulls have drafted Desmond Bane at No. 30 and had a better player at this point? Yes, and the entire NFL could have drafted Tom Brady. Draft prognostications are voodoo magic that few master. Tyrese Haliburton stands out as a miss, drafted at No. 12 and having an All-Star case this season, but even that would’ve been a stretch.
Williams was not the wrong pick. In a fairy tale universe does Haliburton make enough difference to change the team forecast, even despite Lonzo Ball’s seemingly infinite injury? I think highly enough of him that it’s possible, but ultimately unlikely.