The Bulls Did Try to Trade Down (Probably), Williams’ Contract Details, Not Starting, Team Reaction, and Other Bulls Bullets

One night after the draft, I have thoughts. Those thoughts are shared below. Enjoy.

•   The Chicago Bulls selected Patrick Williams with the No. 4 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. It’s time to accept that. Look, was I underwhelmed when Adam Silver read his name (er, rather, when I looked at my phone and saw Woj spoil the surprise)? A little. From Day 1, I had been a Deni Avdija stan and/or trade-down advocate. However, at the same time, I wasn’t disappointed. If the Bulls selected Williams even two picks later, Bulls fans would probably have had a much more tamed reaction. Let me remind folks, though, picks 4-10 had no clear hierarchy. Everyone knew it was a crapshoot going in, and the fact that Avdija fell all the way to No. 9 and Isaac Okoro went one pick after Williams at No. 4 demonstrated just that. The Bulls were not the only team to say, “screw the mock drafts, I’m going for the guy I want.”

•   The biggest complaint I’ve seen about this pick revolves around the fact that the Bulls didn’t trade down, Why are we automatically assuming that the front office didn’t try that? Because, uh, it sure sounds like they did. General Manager Marc Eversley literally told ESPN’s Eric Woodyard after the draft that the organization “took calls,” but were ultimately confident in the pick. Arturas Karnisovas then told reporters during his post-draft interview that the organization did not consider trading up, which could further suggest that a handful of those calls were about moving down. The two problems that could have very well presented itself is that (1) the packages offered in a trade down were weak, and (2) the Bulls learned they could miss out on Williams with a trade down. After all, the Cavaliers did take a freakishly athletic wing over their own right after the Bulls at No. 5. What if they were high on Williams?

•   Also, for what it’s worth, ESPN 1000’s David Kaplan tweeted that multiple teams were actually interested in trading in front of the Bulls to try to grab Williams. Believe that report all you want, but we do know the Detroit Pistons were very high on him heading into the draft. The San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Pelicans were two other teams that reportedly had Williams high on their respective draft boards. None of this is necessarily new information, by the way. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor tweeted a week before the draft that Williams was a main target for several teams looking to trade up in the draft.

•   From what I’ve seen, a handful of Bulls fans are already coming around to the pick. I want folks to know that I, too, wasn’t jumping out of my seat, but I also hope that we can all give Williams a fair chance. The pick was a bit sobering in the sense that it reminded us that the Bulls still have a ways to go. The new front office did not come in with intentions to turn this team into an instant competitor. Chicago’s plan is still to build a long, sustainable winning organization. A developmental, high-upside talent like Williams fits perfectly with that philosophy. I’m not telling anyone how to feel or encouraging anyone to get super amped. Rather, I just want to share my two cents and suggest patience. We got a new front office. We got a new head coach. We got a whole boatload of change. I’m happy.

•   Ok, but also Williams does have some hella dope highlights, and he looks like a beast, so maybe you should be a little excited:

https://twitter.com/BoTilly/status/1329237256649969667?s=20

•   Also, to make you feel a bit more encouraged, the Bulls still got a totally reasonable draft grade. Bleacher Report, The Ringer, and SBNation gave the selection a B or B+. If anything, that is another indication that this wasn’t necessarily perceived as a “reach.” And, while it might not be the top grade, neither side really handed out many A’s in this draft.

•   If there is anything to be excited about with Williams, it’s his ability to constantly improve. We saw him take on a bigger and bigger role at Florida State, and we also saw him continue to rise through the predraft process. Karnisovas pointed out this consistency as a main reason why the Bulls made their pick.

•   Williams was just as complimentary of his new leadership:

•   Hey, I’m happy when a good guy can grab a bag. Williams truly sounds like a great dude, and I recommend you read through some of his quotes from last night’s press conference. I know talent is really what we are looking for, but I am excited this team signed someone who appears to be a great on-court and off-court presence. Questions surfaced about the work ethic of guys like Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball throughout this process, and the last thing this new era needs is any toxic vibes. I’m not saying that’s a reason not to draft someone, but it’s always a sweetener when you don’t have to worry about those things.

•   THIS … THIS … AND THIS …

•   For real, try not to worry about that whole not staring in college thing. Williams excelled in his role, and Florida State had a handful of guys to get involved. The guy still played a pivotal role in the team’s success.

•   Let’s round things off with a teammate dump:

https://twitter.com/wendellcarter34/status/1329244343589359618?s=20

written by

Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.

more bulls news

What Would be the Best Draw for the Chicago Bulls in the Play-In Tournament?

Nine games stand between the Chicago Bulls and the Play-In Tournament. I know ... yippie! Practically locked into the No. 9 seed, this puts them in line to host the No. 10 seed at the United Center in Round 1....

Best Defense of the Season, Playing Big, Javonte Green’s Instant Impact, and Other Bulls Bullets

Lose to the 14-win Wizards one game and hold the Pacers' elite offense to their worst performance of the season the next. Your 2023-24 Chicago Bulls, everyone! As I said in last night's Enhanced Box Score, I'm now even more...

WOW: Minnesota Timberwolves Sale to Alex Rodriguez Falls Through

The Minnesota Timberwolves dropped a bomb on Thursday morning. According to a statement released by the Timberwolves and Lynx ownership group, the franchise is no longer for sale. A transition of power was thought to be in place over the...

Enhanced Box Score: Bulls 125, Pacers 99 – March 27, 2024

I got to be honest, I'm even more upset about the Washington Wizards' loss. If the Chicago Bulls played like they did tonight, they would have beaten that depleted Wizards team by 40. This was a locked-in group from the...

Javonte Green Makes Bulls Return… Immediately Does Awesome Stuff

Javonte Green has officially made his Chicago Bulls debut ... again. The 30-year-old signed with the organization via a 10-day hardship deal on March 22. Injuries to Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, and Julian Phillips paved the way for...

WATCH: Alex Caruso Snatches Rookie Ben Sheppard’s Ankles

Alex Caruso will always be known for his defense capabilities, but he's showing a lot more than that this season. The veteran guard is averaging double-digit points for the first time in his career. A big part of that has...

Draymond Green Ejected Less Than 4 Minutes Into Game Against Orlando

Draymond Green was at it again on Wednesday night. Out East to take on the Orlando Magic, the Golden State Warriors watched Paolo Banchero bulldoze Andrew Wiggins to the rim early in the first quarter. As Banchero high-fived his teammates...

Pre-Gamin’: Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls (7:00 CT), Projected Lineups, How to Watch, More

Everything was awful on Tuesday. Be Better. https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1772971933161705610?s=20 Game Info Indiana Pacers (41-32) at Chicago Bulls (34-38) – 7:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio) Projected Starting Lineups Chicago Bulls Coby White Alex Caruso Ayo Dosunmu...

Around the Association: Caitlin Clark Gets Big(3) Offer, Knicks Getting Help, Lakers OT Thriller, More

It's hard to believe we have less than three weeks remaining in the NBA's regular season, and we should be in for some real drama down the stretch. The Knicks have plenty to play for in their remaining 11 games...

WHOA: NCAA Looking to Ban Prop Betting on All College Athletes

As the NCAA men's basketball tournament gears up for the Sweet Sixteen, the college sports world received some big news. On Wednesday morning, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that NCAA president Charlie Baker wants to officially ban prop betting on college...

Latest News

Diamondbacks vs. Rockies: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

In their season opener on Friday, Corbin Carroll and the Arizona Diamondbacks take on Nolan Jones and the Colorado Rockies, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at Chase Field.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Arizona-Colorado...

Guardians vs. Athletics: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

Logan Allen will take the mound for the Cleveland Guardians when they square off against starter Ross Stripling and the Oakland Athletics in their season opener on Friday, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.Find out how to watch the...

How to Watch Mariners vs. Red Sox: Live Stream or on TV

In their season opener on Friday, Julio Rodriguez and the Seattle Mariners play Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox, with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at T-Mobile Park.Keep reading to see how to watch the Seattle-Boston matchup...

How to Watch Padres vs. Giants: Live Stream or on TV

On Friday, the San Diego Padres (2-1) take on Jorge Soler and the San Francisco Giants (0-1), with first pitch scheduled for 9:40 PM ET at PETCO Park.Keep reading to find out how to watch the San Diego-San Francisco matchup...

How to Watch Dodgers vs. Cardinals: Live Stream or on TV

The Los Angeles Dodgers (2-1) host Paul Goldschmidt and the St. Louis Cardinals (0-1) on Friday, with first pitch at 10:10 PM ET.Keep reading to see how to watch the Los Angeles-St. Louis matchup below.When is Dodgers vs. Cardinals and...

OMG: Michael Busch Scored the 9th Inning, GO-AHEAD Run, Because He Just Never Stopped Running

That was absolutely incredible. To all the little kids out there, when your coach tells you to never stop running, this is why. Rookie Cubs 1B Michael Busch (the guy the Cubs got from the Dodgers this offseason to be...

Astros vs. Yankees: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The New York Yankees (1-0), led by Juan Soto, visit Kyle Tucker and the Houston Astros (0-1) at 8:10 PM ET on Friday.Find out how to watch the Houston-New York matchup below.When is Astros vs. Yankees and when does it...

How to Watch Rays vs. Blue Jays: Live Stream or on TV

The Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) visit Yandy Diaz and the Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) on Friday, with first pitch at 6:50 PM ET.Keep reading to see how to watch the Tampa Bay-Toronto matchup below.When is Rays vs. Blue Jays and...

Enhanced Box Score: Rangers 4, Cubs 3 – March 28, 2024

It took exactly one day for the Cubs' ace to sustain what may be a significant injury, for their closer to blow a save, for the umpires to significantly impact the outcome of a critical play (this time in the...

Justin Steele Injury Update: New Classification, MRI Tomorrow, IL Stint Coming? Steele and Counsell Speak

A significant update on Justin Steele came from Craig Counsell tonight after the Cubs extra innings loss in Texas. In short: Yes, a stint on the Injured List is likely for Justin Steele. But we still don't know how severe...

more bulls news