According to a report from The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Chicago Bulls will sign rising star Patrick Williams to a five-year, $90 million contract. Williams will also return to the Bulls next season.
Affected by injuries this season, Williams only played 43 games for the Bulls in the NBA regular season, averaging 27.3 minutes per game, averaging 10 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 1.3 turnovers while shooting 44.3% from the field, 39.9% from three-point range, and 78.8% from the free throw line. Williams has been affected by a left foot injury this season, having undergone surgery in February, which also resulted in him missing all games in the second half of the season. Williams is pretty good overall, he's a solid three-point shooting percentage on the offensive end, he's also able to use his athleticism to help the team on the defensive end, and he's a reliable 3-and-D type forward.
The problem is that Williams' injury concerns are a bit too heavy. He also made just 17 appearances in 2021-22 due to a wrist injury, and has missed almost half of the games this season. In the first four seasons of his career, Williams only made more than 70 appearances in two seasons, and the other two seasons did not even make 45 appearances, and his attendance and his physical condition were indeed a little too fragile. Serious injuries have also contributed to Williams' inconsistent tactical position in the team, and his failure to develop up to expectations is largely related to this.
There had been previous reports that the Bulls might let Williams go, but they had just made a qualifying offer for Williams and made him a restricted free agent, and they ended up signing him to a contract extension. It seems that the Bulls still think that the former No. 4 pick still has a lot of potential to tap, so it's a pity to let him go for nothing. On the other hand, given Williams' contract extension and the team's selection of rising forward Matas Buzelis from Lithuania in the draft, the Bulls' thinking may change a bit next. If nothing else, the Bulls may start rebuilding as well. I wonder if the rising star of the striker, who was once expected to do so by everyone, will be able to play worthy of his contract next, and will he be able to improve and perform at the level he deserves?