3. Patrick Williams
Perhaps possessing the highest potential ceiling of any player on this list, Patrick Williams also has the lowest possible floor. It’s been a bumpy few years for the fourth-year forward, leaving the Bulls hopeful Pat can finally grab hold of the wheel and become a consistent contributor the team can rely upon.
Williams took a real step in the right direction last season, averaging a career-high 10.2 points while also reeling in 4 rebounds per game and drilling 41.5% of his three-pointers. This makes Pat a fairly elite 3-and-D role player in his own right, but the Bulls are counting on him to be so much more than a role player.
The Bulls are (still) counting on Patrick Williams to take the next step.
If Pat is to move into ESPN’s Top 100 any time soon, he must begin taking responsibility for his own career trajectory and forcefully insert his presence into the starting lineup. Especially now that Williams is entering a contract year, it’s no longer acceptable for him to play passively and wait for opportunities to present themself.
Williams has benefitted from having a veteran like DeRozan around to mentor him, but he’s never had any outside pressure coming for his title as the starting power forward. With the recently-signed Torrey Craig threatening Pat’s job security, but also willing to teach him a few steps along the way, Williams is now finally in an environment conducive to personal growth. Now it’s on him to take that next step and join the NBA’s elite Top 100.