Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams agreed to a five-year, $90 million contract, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic on June 29. The team announced the deal on July 6.
Williams, who turns 23 in August, averaged 10.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting 39.9% from deep in 43 games last season. His season was cut short by a foot injury that required surgery. However, during an appearance on 670 The Score in Chicago, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic reported that Williams has not fully recovered from the injury, which he sustained in January. “I’ve heard that he’s still not healthy from this foot injury,” Mayberry said on the Bernstein & Holmes Show on July 8. “That raises concerns about his durability and potential for future injuries over the span of his new contract.”
Williams initially suffered a bone edema, which was later diagnosed as a stress fracture. The team announced in February that he would be shut down for the rest of the season. This marked the second time in three years that Williams’ season was significantly shortened by injuries; he appeared in only 17 games in 2021-22 due to a fractured wrist. Despite playing all 82 games in 2022-23 and 71 games as a rookie, Williams’ development has been hindered by intermittent injuries. He has spoken about the challenges of fitting in alongside Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and former teammate DeMar DeRozan, as well as not fully capitalizing on his opportunities in 2022-23.
Bulls general manager Marc Eversley emphasized the importance of Williams’ development for the team’s success during an NBA TV broadcast in July 2023, noting that Williams needs to take another step forward. Williams showed promise before his injury, posting 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game in 19 games with 18 starts. With DeRozan gone and the potential departures of LaVine and Vucevic, Williams has a significant opportunity to step up and fulfill the Bulls’ expectations.
The runway has been cleared
Mayberry said. Patrick Williams has no more reason to say he’s gotta defer to this person or that person.” Despite his frustrations with the injury, Williams remains optimistic about his future with the Bulls and sees himself as a cornerstone for the team’s future success.