The Chicago Bulls select forward Patrick Williams #4 overall.

[fleet]

Well, it's nice that we'll be able to start watching games in just one week and start seeing things with our own eyes instead of watching nearly year-old game video or workout videos.

Lauri has seen

"I've seen how well he plays defense, how physical he is for a 19-year-old," teammate Lauri Markkanen said. "It's pretty impressive to see. I wish I was like that at that age."

[ZOMG]

In this instance, I'm not sure it is a matter of getting better. It is a matter of body type. I'm not sure that he's laterally quick enough to guard threes. From what I can see in college, he is not. I hope that proves to not be true in the NBA. I've said lots of times though, these guys have had 8 months to work on their bodies and change things to fit in the NBA, part of the reason he rose up so high on draft boards was what he's done in that period we haven't seen.

I'm excited to see what Williams can do, I have an opinion based on what I saw in college, but I'll acknowledge that I'm no expert in translating college to the pros and what he can do now may be a whole lot different than what he could do then anyway.

Here's a great pic of Williams trying to guard laterally on the perimeter:



That's how he looked in college as well. Having to resort to these side sprints, can't get low and move laterally. IMO, as he is now, he's gonna be a disaster trying to guard NBA 3's on the perimeter. It all ties into him not getting a lot of PT this season. He needs work.

Am I taking crazy pills or what?

That is not Pat Will on Lavine. The beard doesn't connect the same, and Pat Will looks a lil lighter than buddy. Also could be the angle, but I don't see the blonde patch.

LOL Oh s**t.

I have to admit I did a kind of double take myself when I linked that photo... "man, he looks like he's 30... is that really Williams?" but I couldn't figure who else it could be.

Any ideas?

[DASMACKDOWN]

That is NOT Patrick Williams.

Patrick Williams snuck in to Bulls minicamp practice in September, so you’re wrong.

LOL now I'm really interested.

Who the **** is this guy?

The logical answer is a trainer.

Bulls players arent even allowed to have contact with other players yet. They only can have a bubble group of 1 on 1 runs with a few trainers. They have said it quite a few times re Coby interview re Patrick Williams interview. Not sure who he is, but he clearly isnt PWill lol

[ZOMG]

I guess this is my "Nate Robinson shoots a 3 at the wrong basket" moment.

I'm ready to accept a ban until the 1st preseason game

[BigJimFinn]

Does anyone know BD’s past approaches with rookies? Does he purposely play them, purposely not play them or vary it based on their talent.

Donovan's rookies have been Cameron Payne, Josh Huestis, Domantas Sabonis, Alexis Abrines, Semaj Christon, Terrance Ferguson, Daniel Hamilton, Dakari Johnson, PJ Dozier, Hamidou Diallo, Deonte Burton, Tyler Davis, Donte Grantham, Darius Bazley, Lu Dort, Kevin Hervey, Isaiah Roby and Devon Hall.

Not a lot of household names given the Thunder were good and a playoff team drafting late. Further, because Oklahoma City had mostly veteran-laden teams, there weren't many minutes for rookies.

Of the above list, Dort last season played the most at 22.8/game. Sabonis averaged the second most at 20.1. Bazley is next at 18.5 mpg, but his playing time shot up to 27.5 mpg after the All-Star break, a good indication that Donovan is willing to play deserving rookies who work hard and develop. Dort's minutes rose to 25.3 per game after the All-Star break last season, and in the postseason he averaged 29.2 minutes.

What Donovan did last season with Dort and Bazley is probably the best indicator of how he would potentially use Williams. With what he did with Dort and Bazley, Donovan showed he trusts rookies and won't hesitate to play them. But they have to earn it.

Since you lifted this research wholemeal from Darnell Mayberry at the Athletic, please credit it to him.

[Jello Biafra]

[Bulliever2020]

Donovan's rookies have been Cameron Payne, Josh Huestis, Domantas Sabonis, Alexis Abrines, Semaj Christon, Terrance Ferguson, Daniel Hamilton, Dakari Johnson, PJ Dozier, Hamidou Diallo, Deonte Burton, Tyler Davis, Donte Grantham, Darius Bazley, Lu Dort, Kevin Hervey, Isaiah Roby and Devon Hall.

Not a lot of household names given the Thunder were good and a playoff team drafting late. Further, because Oklahoma City had mostly veteran-laden teams, there weren't many minutes for rookies.

Of the above list, Dort last season played the most at 22.8/game. Sabonis averaged the second most at 20.1. Bazley is next at 18.5 mpg, but his playing time shot up to 27.5 mpg after the All-Star break, a good indication that Donovan is willing to play deserving rookies who work hard and develop. Dort's minutes rose to 25.3 per game after the All-Star break last season, and in the postseason he averaged 29.2 minutes.

What Donovan did last season with Dort and Bazley is probably the best indicator of how he would potentially use Williams. With what he did with Dort and Bazley, Donovan showed he trusts rookies and won't hesitate to play them. But they have to earn it.

Since you lifted this research wholemeal from Darnell Mayberry at the Athletic, please credit it to him.

Ok. Darnell broke down the minutes in a comment, but let me ask you a question: Are you an intellectual property attorney for the Athletic or just the snot nosed narc who tattled on everyone? If not, This isn't a research publication.

You took his comment word for word. Pretty disingenuous to post it here as your own without mentioning it came from someone else.

[Benedict Miller]

The fact that Pat can defend multiple positions, including the post is great. I can dig it

[Indomitable]

Donovan's rookies have been Cameron Payne, Josh Huestis, Domantas Sabonis, Alexis Abrines, Semaj Christon, Terrance Ferguson, Daniel Hamilton, Dakari Johnson, PJ Dozier, Hamidou Diallo, Deonte Burton, Tyler Davis, Donte Grantham, Darius Bazley, Lu Dort, Kevin Hervey, Isaiah Roby and Devon Hall.

Not a lot of household names given the Thunder were good and a playoff team drafting late. Further, because Oklahoma City had mostly veteran-laden teams, there weren't many minutes for rookies.

Of the above list, Dort last season played the most at 22.8/game. Sabonis averaged the second most at 20.1. Bazley is next at 18.5 mpg, but his playing time shot up to 27.5 mpg after the All-Star break, a good indication that Donovan is willing to play deserving rookies who work hard and develop. Dort's minutes rose to 25.3 per game after the All-Star break last season, and in the postseason he averaged 29.2 minutes.

What Donovan did last season with Dort and Bazley is probably the best indicator of how he would potentially use Williams. With what he did with Dort and Bazley, Donovan showed he trusts rookies and won't hesitate to play them. But they have to earn it.

Since you lifted this research wholemeal from Darnell Mayberry at the Athletic, please credit it to him.

Ok. Darnell broke down the minutes in a comment, but let me ask you a question: Are you an intellectual property attorney for the Athletic or just the snot nosed narc who tattled on everyone? If not, This isn't a research publication.

So you stole his article and this place use to get in trouble over that. It happened a lot.

[fleet]

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[VolumePoster]

Read on Twitter

Greenberg clearly forgot to add:

ZOMG: Can't move laterally
Some internet dude: His quads are too big.

[VolumePoster]

Question though - how do they know if he's a good defender if they're only doing individual work?

[Payt10]

Read on Twitter

Totally random, but I saw this picture on the Bulls twitter page today, and I was surprised to notice he has the same skin condition I've had since I was 10. I'm sure nobody else would have even noticed it, but it's always interesting to me when I see someone else who has vitiligo, because it is pretty rare. It makes sense now why his hair is two different colors.

[BigUps]

I think there is one thing we can all agree on when it comes to Patrick Williams....his likability factor is off the charts. The kid seems so genuine. It’s refreshing.

[MrFortune3]

That is NOT Patrick Williams.

Patrick Williams snuck in to Bulls minicamp practice in September, so you’re wrong.

LOL now I'm really interested.

Who the **** is this guy?

Is that Vonleh?

[MrFortune3]

His body type is not gonna stop him from successfully defending 3’s in the NBA. He’s only 19 and has barely scratched the surface of his potential both in his game and his body.

I'm not sure how much he can improve lateral quickness which seemed deficient, but I'll pleasantly wait and see. I don't expect players to make big strides in those types of areas. I think you typically are kind of who you are from a quickness perspective coming out of college.

I'm a believer that everything can be improved if the player has the right ceiling. Hard work, talent and potential can allow athletes to achieve many things.

Pwill has all of those things. He'll be fine in guarding 3's in the NBA.

[othawhitemeat]

His body type is not gonna stop him from successfully defending 3’s in the NBA. He’s only 19 and has barely scratched the surface of his potential both in his game and his body.

I'm not sure how much he can improve lateral quickness which seemed deficient, but I'll pleasantly wait and see. I don't expect players to make big strides in those types of areas. I think you typically are kind of who you are from a quickness perspective coming out of college.

I'm a believer that everything can be improved if the player has the right ceiling. Hard work, talent and potential can allow athletes to achieve many things.

Pwill has all of those things. He'll be fine in guarding 3's in the NBA.

Pat Will seems yo want to do well and has all the charateristics to max his ability. To me the only concern I have about maxing out his talent is if he will defer too much in the long run... however he seems to have a chance to be really good and seems to be a great team player.

[MrFortune3]

I'm not sure how much he can improve lateral quickness which seemed deficient, but I'll pleasantly wait and see. I don't expect players to make big strides in those types of areas. I think you typically are kind of who you are from a quickness perspective coming out of college.

I'm a believer that everything can be improved if the player has the right ceiling. Hard work, talent and potential can allow athletes to achieve many things.

Pwill has all of those things. He'll be fine in guarding 3's in the NBA.

Pat Will seems yo want to do well and has all the charateristics to max his ability. To me the only concern I have about maxing out his talent is if he will defer too much in the long run... however he seems to have a chance to be really good and seems to be a great team player.

His offensive game will be the most interesting thing to watch in terms of his development. He's so raw and has so much potential, especially with being a former PG.

[sco]

I'm a believer that everything can be improved if the player has the right ceiling. Hard work, talent and potential can allow athletes to achieve many things.

Pwill has all of those things. He'll be fine in guarding 3's in the NBA.

Pat Will seems yo want to do well and has all the charateristics to max his ability. To me the only concern I have about maxing out his talent is if he will defer too much in the long run... however he seems to have a chance to be really good and seems to be a great team player.

His offensive game will be the most interesting thing to watch in terms of his development. He's so raw and has so much potential, especially with being a former PG.

I think the word "potential" is key. He's 19, and still hasn't realized that aspect of his game in any meaningful sense. Could it happen? Sure. Have we been tantalized by potential in guys like Tyrus, Dunn and Lauri, that didn't materialize? I still have the scars. Just saying, I'll believe it when I see it. And to be fair, these are young guys in the biggest candy store in the world, it takes a level of motivation, very few have to continue to work as hard as you can when you are rich and the world loves you. I feel like if you don't learn the skill of work ethic on your rookie deal, you almost never do in the NBA.

[Jcool0]

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