The Bulls are staring at a 2026-27 season that has to tell them something real about the players already on the roster, and Patrick Williams sits right in the middle of that evaluation.
Tiago Splitter looks like the right coach to sort through it. His background in player development, both in the NBA and in Europe, gives Chicago a chance to squeeze more out of the 3-and-D types already in the building.
That matters for Williams more than anyone. His first six NBA seasons have been a letdown, and 2025-26 brought the lowest point yet: just seven points per game while shooting 37.2% from the field. He still has three years left on his deal at $18 million per season, plus a player option, and moving that contract would take serious draft capital if the Bulls wanted another team to absorb it.
For now, though, Chicago doesn’t have an obvious bench wing who matches Williams’ blend of size and athleticism. Noa Essengue is supposed to be the long-term answer there, but after missing his rookie season with a shoulder injury, he probably isn’t ready to handle major rotational work.
That opens a window for Williams, even if it’s not a wide one.
The Bulls would love it if he simply became a dependable rotation player and gave them some value back on that salary. At this stage, that may be the most realistic win they can get from him. The upside has always been there in theory, but he hasn’t consistently played with enough force, and his perimeter shot has gone too cold too often to make the rest of his game matter.
Chicago’s ideal bench group right now likely includes Tre Jones and Isaac Okoro in the backcourt, Essengue and Jalen Smith up front, and Zach Collins as the backup center. Dailyn Swain and Rob Dillingham are also expected to be part of that picture.
Still, Essengue didn’t exactly force the issue in Summer League. Across four games in Las Vegas, he averaged 6.5 points and shot 43.8% from the field, and his movements on the court often looked awkward or clunky.
The Bulls understood they were drafting a long-term project, not an immediate solution. He’ll need time to add strength and polish the rangy 3-and-D profile Chicago believes in.
Once Essengue is ready, he’ll probably move into the same role Williams is trying to hold onto now. Until then, Williams has a chance to carve out minutes in Splitter’s system.
History doesn’t exactly suggest he’ll run with it. But Essengue’s slow arrival at least gives Williams one more opening to prove he belongs in the Bulls’ plans.
In Other News...
Josh Giddey Just Became The Bulls' Most Complicated Fit
Josh Giddeys first season in Chicago gave the Bulls plenty to like. He averaged 17.0 points and 9.1 assists per game in 2025-26, and his three-point shooting ticked up after he arrived, giving the front office a version of him that looked more comfortable and more scalable than the one it inherited. For a team still shaping its identity around a younger core, that kind of production matters, especially from a player who can organize an offense and keep the ball moving.
The fit question now is less about whether Giddey can help and more about what role best fits the group around him. Chicago has started building around Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson, with Norman Powell and Nic Claxton also in the mix, and that changes the amount of creation available at the point of attack. Giddeys overall metrics on both ends suggest the Bulls are still trying to balance his strengths with the demands of a more layered offensive system, which leaves his place in the pecking order very much worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Still Have A Chance To Turn These Misses Into A Win
The Bulls missed out on two free-agent targets, but there is still a clear line of thinking behind the way they have operated. Chicago has leaned into roster and financial flexibility under executive Bryson Graham, a cautious approach that can feel frustrating in the moment but is designed to keep options open as the market keeps shifting.
Bennedict Mathurin and Jonathan Kuminga are off the board, and their decisions only sharpen the question of how Chicago can still turn a couple of missed swings into something useful. The Bulls are watching two clubs deal with salary-cap pressure and a few crowded decisions of their own, which could create the kind of opening that rewards patience if Chicago decides to act. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Veterans Could Be Squeezed By Chicagos New Direction
Chicagos new leadership group of Bryson Graham and Tiago Splitter is signaling a clear shift in direction, and for a team that has spent too long trying to thread the needle, that could mean a very different night-to-night workload for some familiar names. The Bulls are moving into a rebuilding phase, with a stronger emphasis on younger players and less interest in a win-at-all-costs model, which naturally changes the conversation around how the roster is used.
Norman Powell and Josh Giddey are among the players most likely to feel the squeeze as the priorities change. Powell could be pushed into a more complementary scoring role instead of carrying as much of the offense, while Giddeys place in the long-term picture is less settled than it appeared a year ago, with his usage potentially taking a hit as the Bulls sort out what the next version of the team is supposed to look like. [Read more 🡒]