According to sources, the Thunder could offer a deal to Bulls Chicago forward Patrick Williams as he enters free agency. The Thunder are eager to improve their squad following a second-round playoff exit, and adding another young forward like Williams would be perfect.
Thunder Reportedly Interested in Chicago Forward
As Patrick Williams reaches restricted free agency from the Chicago Bulls, the Oklahoma City Thunder are reportedly looking into a trade for the center. According to Bulls beat reporter Darnell Mayberry, the Bulls gave him a contract worth more than $16 million per year, which will be the benchmark to exceed.
“If the Bulls have seen enough of the Williams experiment, one team that has great interest, a league source said, is Oklahoma City,” Mayberry stated in his article. “The Thunder need more size, and they have an army of draft picks that can sweeten the pot for the Bulls if a sign-and-trade emerges in July.”
Williams, the fourth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, has struggled with consistency over his four seasons in Chicago. He had a dislocated wrist in 2021/22, which limited him to 17 total appearances. Williams played only 43 games for the Bulls this season due to a persistent foot issue that necessitated surgery.
“For me, it was kind of frustrating because I’m thinking I’m ramping up,” Williams told The Athletic. “We were planning to return near the end of the month. When you receive that news, it’s quite terrible.”
This season, the 6’7 forward averaged 10 points, nearly four rebounds, and 1.5 assists while playing limited minutes. Williams hit 40% from three, with a 47/40/79 shooting split. His main concerns come off the court, with critics criticizing his motivation off the bench and his lack of assertiveness in close games.
Why Does The Thunder Want Patrick Williams?
The Thunder absolutely need the size and perimeter shooting that Patrick Williams provides. Aside from 7’0 Chet Holmgren and 6’8 wing Josh Giddey, the Thunder’s rotation is all under six feet five. Veteran centers Bismack Biyombo and Mike Muscala are expected to leave in free agency this offseason. Oklahoma City was fourth lowest in rebounding and second worst in offensive rebounding. The Thunder rely heavily on Holmgren, Giddey, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for rebounding, which has limited their spacing and hindered their ability to play their free-flowing style of basketball.
We witnessed that during the Thunder’s playoff series loss to the Mavericks. Although Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic were practically unstoppable in the Western Conference semi-finals, the series was decided in the paint. PJ Washington’s standout performances demonstrated this. Washington averaged 8.3 rebounds versus the Thunder, a 2.7-rebound increase over his regular-season totals. Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, and even Doncic excelled in Oklahoma City.
Would The Fit Be Right?
On the other hand, Williams has failed to find regular playing time and ball usage in Chicago. In the midst of unstable ownership and tension with head coach Billy Donovan, Williams may seek a new beginning and a place to reinvigorate his career. Williams could receive playing time as well as a key frontcourt role on a young Thunder team that is expected to make a strong playoff push next season.
The Chicago Bulls, of course, are the most formidable impediment to Patrick Williams’ probable trade to the Thunder. The Reinsdorf ownership is hoping to avoid a repeat of the Lauri Markkanen scenario. They moved on from him too quickly, and Markkanen became an All-Star. Despite his injuries and unreliability, Williams’ game remains enticing to multiple NBA teams. Chicago will want to keep him, which is why they made the hefty $16 million contract offer. If the Florida State grad accepts the offer, he will be the team’s fourth-highest paid player.
