Bulls Reportedly Exploring Trades Centered On Patrick Williams

January 18, 2025

The Chicago Bulls are exploring trade opportunities involving 23-year-old power forward Patrick Williams, according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.

This decision comes as Williams has seen a decline in production during his fifth NBA season. Through 32 games, he’s averaging just 9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per contest, while posting career-low shooting numbers — 37.7% from the field and 36.2% from three.

Williams has been a project for the Bulls since they selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

However, sources tell Cowley that his development hasn’t gone as smoothly as hoped. While his attitude has not been an issue, Williams has struggled to fully buy into his role within the team’s system.

Coaches have reportedly faced frustrations in their attempts to get him to commit to certain matchups, and Williams has had difficulty finding his rhythm.

The Bulls have shuffled the coaching duties around Williams, with director of player development Peter Patton taking over as his primary mentor this season. There were signs of progress in November when Williams averaged 11.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

However, his production has taken another downturn in January, where he’s putting up just 6.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per game through nine contests.

Head coach Billy Donovan has responded by reducing Williams’ minutes, and in Friday’s home loss to Charlotte, he played just 17 minutes, finishing with five points and no rebounds while posting a dismal -17 plus/minus rating.

Despite the struggles, Donovan remains supportive of Williams’ potential.

“I think his heart is in a really good place as it relates to our team, and I think he really wants to do well,” Donovan said. “I’m not concerned about him. He’s had moments where he’s been pretty good… he’s still going through a maturation process offensively.”

The Bulls’ decision to consider trading Williams is particularly notable given that just six months ago, they extended him to a five-year, $90 million deal. Williams was a restricted free agent last summer, and the Bulls could have allowed him to explore offers from other teams.

Instead, they opted to lock him in for the long term with an $18 million annual salary, which includes a player option for the 2028-29 season. With Williams’ recent struggles, though, it remains to be seen if teams would be willing to take on that contract without some form of incentive from the Bulls.

Williams now joins a growing list of potential trade candidates in Chicago, with reports suggesting that the Bulls are also actively looking to move Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and possibly Lonzo Ball ahead of the trade deadline.