According to NBA reporter Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, the Oklahoma City Thunder are interested in Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams.
Williams becomes a restricted free agent this offseason.
The Thunder can sign Williams to an offer sheet and then the Bulls would have 48 hours to match the offer.
“If the Bulls have seen enough of the Williams experiment, one team that has great interest, a league source said, is Oklahoma City,” Mayberry wrote. “The Thunder need more size, and they have an army of draft picks that can sweeten the pot for the Bulls if a sign-and-trade emerges in July.”
When the two sides negotiated last fall, the Bulls offered Williams a contract of $16 million annually. Williams underwent season-ending surgery on his left foot in March.
The Bulls drafted Williams with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Florida State. Williams averaged 10.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.8 blocks this season in 43 games while shooting 44.3% from the floor, 39.9% from beyond the arc and 78.8% from the free-throw line.
“I don’t think anybody knows what their future is, to be honest,” Williams said in March. “I would love to continue to be a Bull. I love it here. I love the opportunity we have to build culture, to build something special with this group and this team. I think I could really be a cornerstone piece for this team. But you never know what the future holds and I understand it’s a business.”
Williams has career averages of 9.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks.
“Like I said, I love it here,” Williams said. “I love the team. I love the guys. I love the front office. For now, worry about the surgery and getting back playing and let the chips fall where they may. … Nobody has really even talked about contract stuff. It’s more so about getting me back healthy, which I appreciate.”
The Bulls missed the playoffs again this year, while the Thunder lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round.
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