Just when it seemed like he was done in Chicago for good, Patrick Williams is getting another chance to prove to the Bulls he belongs.
Williams, the fourth-overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, signed a five-year, $90 million contract extension in June of 2024, just before he was set to enter restricted free agency.
Bulls Executive VP of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas felt this was a necessary move after Williams missed 115 games over his first four NBA seasons and averaged 9.7 points and 4.2 rebounds.
Since receiving that deal, the former Florida State standout has done nothing but underwhelm some more. He was benched after 36 games last year in favor of 20-year-old rookie Matas Buzelis and has started only three times this season.
In total, since lucking into long-term security, Williams has averaged 8.1 points and 3.4 rebounds across 114 contests.
Yet somehow, despite having earned the dreaded "draft-bust" label, he's still getting time and opportunity in Chicago.
Former top-5 pick playing key role for Bulls after trade deadline moves
Karnisovas just tore down his team's roster at the trade deadline. He dealt Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu and Nikola Vucevic, among others, to finally kick off a long-needed rebuild. In return, he acquired nine second-round picks and four guards:
- Anfernee Simons
- Jaden Ivey
- Rob Dillingham
- Collin Sexton
That quartet joins incumbents Josh Giddey, Tre Jones, Yuki Kawamura and Mac McClung.
Nick Richards, another trade-deadline acquisition, is the only healthy true center on the Bulls' roster. Buzelis, Isaac Okoro, Leonard Miller, Guerschon Yabusele, Jalen Smith and Williams make up the forward rotation.
Purely due to a lack of options, Bulls Head Coach Billy Donovan has been forced to give Williams extended minutes.
Patrick Williams still disappointing in Chicago
Before players started moving in and out of the Windy City on Feb. 3, Williams was playing 18.6 minutes per game in 46 appearances. He was averaging 6.5 points and 3.0 rebounds.
In the five games since, he's averaging 25.0 minutes -- though his 10.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game remain, of course, underwhelming.
Miller, acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Dosunmu trade, hasn't earned Donovan's trust. Smith is still injured. Okoro missed the Bulls' final game before the All-Star break on Feb. 11, which pushed Williams into the starting lineup.
Donovan simply doesn't have enough bodies to fill out a complete rotation. Which means, somehow, Williams will get another audition -- though don't expect him to land a role.