Bulls latest draft pick could spell bad news for Patrick Williams

Patrick Williams' tenure with the Chicago Bulls could be nearing an end. The former lottery pick just completed the first year of a five-year $90 million contract. However, he's struggled to show any growth in his game.

According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bulls have become "more responsive" to the idea of trading Williams as of late.

“The Bulls have reached the point where they’ve run through most of their developmental staff in an effort to pair Williams with the right personal coach, only to see no upward movement,” Cowley reported. “Considering Karnisovas made a desperate attempt to motivate Williams with the security of a five-year, $90 million contract extension last summer, the only way he knows he can trade him is in a package or part of a multiteam deal.”

Williams' position within the Bulls rotation took another turn on June 25 as the franchise drafted Noa Essengue with the 12th overall pick. 

Essengue, a 7-foot-1 multi-positional forward, will likely fill a similar role to what Williams does. He has already gained experience as a professional, having spent two seasons with Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany and in the EuroCup. 

"If you glanced only at his offensive profile, you’d think he was a rim-running energy big, but in reality, he’s a bendy wing whose ball skills simply need to round into form," J. Kyle Mann wrote for The Ringer. "Those two things have kept me from fully buying in, but Chicago, now in full rebuild mode, has the time to invest in his development. There will be thrilling highs as he’s sprinting in open space next to Josh Giddey."

Chicago will likely prioritize Essengue's minutes within their rotation. As such, Williams could find it difficult to see the court next season. Both he and the franchise could envision Essengue's arrival as the perfect segue into a trade for the Florida State product. 

The Bulls are a rebuilding team. It makes sense for them to take a swing on a player with the upside that Essengue offers. It's also logical to part ways with a player who is clearly in need of a fresh start elsewhere. That's why Bull's fans shouldn't be too shocked if Williams is re-routed at some point between now and the 2026 trade deadline.