The Patrick Williams experiment in Chicago isn't crashing and burning — because it never really got off the tracks to begin with.
We're in year six now, and the long-awaited jump for Williams is no longer on the horizon. Maybe it never was on the horizon, but now it doesn't even appear to be on the horizon. He's averaging a career-low in minutes at 20.6, and his fit among this new look Bulls' team is clunky at best, and unnecessary at worst.
You can't say the Bulls didn't try with Williams, though. They tried perhaps too much to morph him into the 3-and-D wing they envisioned him as. He's been on the team six years, after all, even though he's only averaged double-digit points two times.
He's gotten his chances, and there have been some exciting moments in that time, but not even the most optimistic fan thinks he made the most of those chances.
Now, Williams' inconsistency and his inability to contribute in multiple ways has forced the team's hand, and his role is disintegrating before our eyes. This isn't the result anyone in Chicago hoped for, but it's hard to run from it much longer.
Patrick Williams is slowly falling out of the Bulls lineup
He's played over 20 minutes in just one of his past eight games, and hasn't scored over 8 points in any of them. Williams is actually shooting the ball well from deep (38.6% from 3-point) but is somehow worse from inside the arc, which is surely not what you want from a wing.
Williams isn't going anywhere soon. He has at least two seasons left on his contract after this one, and then a player option for $18 million in 2028-29. Getting any team to take on that contract, at this point in Williams' career, might be mission impossible.
Thus, Williams will be around for the considerable future. How much we see him on the court going forward, especially with Matas Buzelis' emergence and (hopefully) Noa Essengue's future integration as well, remains to be seen.
Bulls fans, close your eyes, I am going to say something that will likely make you see red: Williams is 24 years old, and can still be a helpful NBA player down the line. But his line in Chicago is likely ending, despite the franchise trying and trying again to make him work. The lack of production has finally forced their hand in de-prioritizing him in both the current and future plans of this team.