Report points to Patrick Williams as the Chicago Bulls' best prospect

Can Paw blossom with the Bulls?

© David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Playing with high-usage players such as All-Stars DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic last season often meant that offensive opportunities for other Chicago Bulls players were limited. This was certainly the case for young forward Patrick Williams, who started at power forward for 65 games during the 2022-2023 season.

Despite these limitations, the Florida State product still managed to become a productive and efficient player last season. Williams averaged around ten points and four rebounds on a respectable 46-41-85 shooting line over the course of the year. That's impressive, considering the amount of touches he had per game due to the Bulls' deep roster. Williams has yet to make a leap, but all signs point to him becoming a premier player in the near future.

Plenty of upside

Williams didn't get many chances to showcase his offensive skills with the aforementioned players typically dominating the offense. However, Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey noted that Williams made the most out of his opportunities, showing the potential to be an effective "3-and-D" player.

"Last season, he broke the zero barrier in Dunks and Threes' defensive estimated plus-minus (one of the most trusted catch-all metrics by NBA front offices), which suggests he's at least above average on that end (his rank there was in the 77th percentile). And his shooting numbers probably haven't gotten anywhere near the attention they deserve," Bailey wrote.

Promising trajectory

With the team bringing back their "Big 3" back, Paw could be slotted into a role as the fourth option. However, if the Bulls make changes to their personnel in the near future, his trajectory could look much different depending on which direction they choose to go. It all depends on the kind of opportunities that Williams will receive.

"A little more off-the-dribble creativity (or again, opportunities) would be nice to see, but if Williams simply stays on his current trajectory, he could be a long-time NBA starter," Bailey added.