© Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
How far the Chicago Bulls will go this season hinges on Patrick Williams' development
The Chicago Bulls feature a roster that is eerily similar to the underachieving group last season. Save for a few additions, the team's "Big 3" of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic remain the team's fulcrum, while the supporting cast boasts of familiar faces, such as Alex Caruso and Coby White.
This begs the question: What can be different from the Bulls this season? The answer may lie in the development of young forward Patrick Williams, whose production this upcoming season may be the difference between the Bulls surprising a lot of naysayers or simply missing the playoffs.
Potential is there
The Bulls saw enough potential from the former Florida State star to draft him fourth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-7 forward has shown glimpses of that said potential in his first and third seasons, but nothing substantial enough for him to be considered an impact player.
However, his production this season on both ends of the floor will be crucial for a Bulls squad that is trying to prove its decision-makers made the right call in keeping the current core together for one more season.
"Ever since the Bulls spent the No. 4 pick of the 2020 draft on Williams, they've been awaiting his breakout. His flashes of potentially elite two-way play have encouraged in spurts, but he has yet to put the puzzle pieces together," Zach Buckley wrote.
"Chicago believes he is trending the right direction, but nothing resembling a leap year has happened yet. That's not to say it can't happen, but if there is a next step in the evolution of this team, it starts and stops with Williams coming into his own," he added.
Playing for his future
The upcoming season could make or break Williams' career. He's eligible to sign an extension, but he must prove he's worth it. Williams has put in lots of work this offseason, training with DeRozan in California and dominating several summer runs. All that, though, will be for naught if he doesn't deliver when the games matter.
"The Bulls need to see more than spurts of special play. He could sign an extension this offseason, but finding the right number for both sides could be tricky given his upside but also limited numbers to this point. So, this might very well be a contract season for the skilled swingman, whose play might determine whether he's owed a colossal amount of cash or maybe something that functions more like a short-term, prove-it pact," Buckley continued.
