The Chicago Bulls’ belief in Patrick Williams as a future star lasted longer than his production justified, with members of the organization struggling to move away from comparisons to Kawhi Leonard before eventually changing their evaluation of the former No. 4 overall pick.
According to Jamal Collier of ESPN, several Bulls staffers were surprised when the team gave Williams a five-year, $90 million contract in June 2024 despite him averaging only 10.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in 43 games during the 2023-24 season. One former staffer told ESPN that it took “probably three or four years” for the organization to move on from the idea that Williams could become a player similar to Leonard.
Williams entered the NBA with significant expectations after being selected fourth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. The Bulls viewed his physical tools, defensive potential and shooting ability as the foundation of a potential two-way star, but his offensive development never reached that level.
In six NBA seasons, Williams averaged 9.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 43.8% from the field and 38.1% from three-point range. His best scoring season came in 2022-23, when he averaged 10.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 82 games, but he never averaged more than 10.2 points in a season.
The contract decision became more difficult to defend after Williams’ production declined. In the 2024-25 season, the forward averaged 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds in 63 games while shooting 39.7% from the field and 35.3% from three. His 2025-26 season represented another step backward, as he averaged career lows of 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 72 games while shooting 37.2% overall and 34.7% from three.
Williams also lost his starting role during the 2025-26 season, starting only six games while playing 20.5 minutes per night. Meanwhile, younger Bulls forward Matas Buzelis became a larger part of the team’s future, averaging 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists while starting all 77 games.
The Bulls finished the 2025-26 season with a 31-51 record, missing the playoffs and beginning a significant roster reset. Chicago moved toward a younger core centered around Josh Giddey, Buzelis and 2026 No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson while adding players such as Norman Powell.
The front office also changed leadership by hiring Tiago Splitter as head coach after Billy Donovan’s tenure. Chicago’s offseason moves reflected a shift away from relying on previous lottery picks to become franchise cornerstones.
