Patrick Williams has one year left on his rookie contract, which is set to make him just under $10 million this year.
He's also extension eligible this summer. Will the Bulls offer him an extension? If so, how much?
NBA insider, Keith Smith, from Spotrac aimed to predict Williams' next deal. And it's probably larger than you would think.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Chicago sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
"Williams has become one of the most underrated players from this class," Smith wrote. "He’s a good shooter, has shown improvement every season and he’s been durable in two of his three seasons. The Bulls' roster and cap sheet are in a bit of a weird place, but they can’t let Williams leave because of that. The new CBA allowing for non-max rookie scale extensions to cover five years could come into play here."
The Bulls drafted Williams back in 2020 with the No. 4 pick in that year's draft. Williams marked the first draft pick executed by the Bulls' new regime -- Vice President Artūras Karnišovas and general manager Marc Eversley.
Williams shined during his rookie season. On his way to earning All-Rookie honors, Williams averaged 9.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. His best work came on defense, guarding the likes of the Bulls' best opponents at 19 years old.
Heading into his sophomore season, Williams, unfortunately, broke his wrist. His injury set him back, allowing him to play in just 17 games that season. He averaged nearly the same offensive numbers and was able to help the Bulls during their five-game playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round.
Bulls News
Here's where the skepticism around Smith's contract prediction for Williams comes into play.
Williams didn't take the desired leap the Bulls probably hoped for as a former top-four pick in the draft during his third season. His scoring took an uptick; and he became a more frequent, efficient 3-point shooter. But his presence on the floor is dominated by Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic -- especially on offense.
Williams is not a dominant player on the floor. He can be in spurts, but not 100 percent of the time. His defensive prowess is sublime, yet not elite, either. He has a lot of hurdles to jump before the Bulls would be certain to lock him up on a long-term contract.
But right now, his skillset looks expendable and replicable. As Smith mentioned, his durability is convenient and his ability to take part in defending some of the league's best players is invaluable. But the Bulls believe there is a two-way star buried inside of him.
And until he unleashes that part of him on a consistent basis, it would be difficult to believe the Bulls are willing to sign him to a $100 million contract. Maybe down the line, he'll earn his bag, but certainly not this summer.