More than a week into the 2025 free agency period, the Chicago Bulls have been one of the quieter teams. The team re-signed Tre Jones and has yet to come to terms on a new deal with restricted free agent Josh Giddey.
As the Bulls look to the summer of 2026 to make a splash in free agency, a hypothetical trade suggests the Bulls could have an opportunity to make a swap with one of their biggest division foes. Via Clutch Sports, the Chicago Bulls could make a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks, swapping Patrick Williams for veteran forward Kyle Kuzma.
Swapping Williams for Kuzma benefits both sides to an extent
Entering year six, it's widely assumed that Williams has already reached his peak with the Bulls. In 276 career regular-season games, Williams has averaged 9.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. While he has shot a solid 39 percent from three over the course of his career, the solid perimeter shooting cannot cover up his multiple warts.
The fourth overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft, Williams has never averaged over 10.2 points in his career. Many believed he would see an uptick in production following the sign-and-trade of DeMar DeRozan in the 2024 offseason, but Williams ended up seeing a decrease in his production. Williams would drop from 10.0 points to 9.0 points and from 3.9 rebounds to 3.8 rebounds per game. He would see his playing time cut, with head coach Billy Donovan moving him to the bench in favor of then-rookie Matas Buzelis.
For Kuzma in Milwaukee, the Bucks did not get what they were expecting with the 2020 NBA Champion. Following a trade to the Bucks from the Washington Wizards, Kuzma would average 14.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 33 games. Kumza disappeared in the Bucks' first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers, averaging just 5.8 points, which included a zero-point performance in the series.
A Patrick Williams for Kyle Kuzma trade would be a high-risk, high-reward trade for both sides. For the Bulls, they get off of Williams' five-year, $90 million contract. Entering the second year of the deal, Williams is still owed $72 million (including his player option for the 2028-29 season). Adding Kuzma would add a few more million dollars on the Bulls' cap sheet, but they would be getting a veteran wing who can give them 15-plus points on a nightly basis with some playmaking to boot in the right situation.
Kuzma is only under contract through the 2026-27 season, giving the Bulls the option to either keep him for the next two seasons or rehab his value in hopes of flipping him for a younger player around the 2026 or 2027 trade deadlines. With the Bulls expected to have a lot of open cap heading into the summer of 2026, Chicago could likely flip him at the 2026 deadline if they were to trade for him. With the Bulls far from championship contention, Kuzma would not be dealing with the same pressure he has faced in Milwaukee.
For the Bucks, trading for Williams would give them the chance to make up for the Khris Middleton trade that landed them Kyle Kuzma. At only 23 years old, Patrick Williams could thrive in a new environment and reach a new peak. He has proven to be a better defender than Kuzma and can fit in the Bucks rotation in a lower-usage role, whether that's as a starter or sixth man for the team.
With the Bucks waving and stretching Damian Lillard early in the offseason, Milwaukee could use a cheaper player who has the potential to outplay his deal. Next to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner, Williams could complement both on the defensive with the potential to grow on the offensive end. For each team, the potential trade gives both an addition that would help them go in their preferred direction.