Pat Williams Discussion - Out 4-6 Mo (late Feb to late April)

[ChettheJet]

Sucks it happened, but for a major injury, the timing (beginning of season) and off-hand wrist seem like a best-case scenario. I hope he gets back on the court by April. Nice to get back into the competitive flow so you don't have this long delayed, high pressure return/debut (like Rose).

I get the sense they want(ed) to develop him; not pump and dump. I get the urge to improve the team now, but there are few available guys in the league who make us chip favorites. I'd trade for Lebron of course.


We just need to get this 12-man roster healthy and the 2 elephants playing well. If Coby and Vuc elevate their shooting percentages, we're a whole new beast once Zach and Caruso are back. Add a net-zero Pat to that mix, and all I really need the kid to do is hold his hands up and stay in front of Durant/Giannis/Jimmy for 20 mpg.

I'm also hoping one of these COVID replacements works out and stays (looking at you McKinnie). I've got my scope on the falling Wizards. One of those ex-Lakers would be a good target in a 3-way (Troy and sweetener out). There's also Bertans having an epically horrible season (worse than Vuc surprisingly). Absolutely awful contract. But it could be a way to really fish some assets out of the Wizards, especially if Bulls have a Reinsdorf agreement to pay tax. Maybe we can snag Rui and Kispert or a FRP.

I'd rather cough up expiring salary (DJJ) than Pat.

With the wrist being the issue, he can run hard and have his legs and lungs ready to play, plus dribbling with the right. He might not be able to really shoot but floaters,, hook shots finger rolls he doesn't even need a coach to help him practice right handed shots. And once he gets the cast off jump shots, so he shouldn't come back as flat as with a leg injury.

I don't see any plan where the Bulls trade PW mainly because of all the traded draft picks. They did well to snag Ayo this year in the 2nd but next year they're going to be in the mid 20's so a walk in and contribute guy with the veteran roster they have is unlikely. There's little chance of a guard jumping ahead of Caruso, White or even Ayo for minutes. A front court pick might have a veteran that comes in this season as well as Williams ahead of him. If they keep White, Williams and Ayo there's no pressure on the 2022 pick to come in too soon and if they don't trade the PORT pick and it comes in 2023 they spread out the young players and their rookie contracts coming in as their veterans get older

McKinnie might be the guy from the 10 day crowd who sticks going forward because he can fill a couple of positions on both ends and having experience in the league he's less prone to make mistakes and he'll get a minimum contract. He could be a much younger Garrett Temple who can help the young guys leading by example. I think he might make DJJ expendable in a trade for a taller PF because he can be the 4 in a small lineup

[Wingy]

Looks like his wrist is healing well. I always thought the timetable was a bit stretched. I bet he's back practicing in April and will probably be able to play the last few regular season games.

The injury was bad but for a young athlete like this the body will heal incredibly well given the quality of the surgeons available to him. Unlike with White, Pat will be able to do most core lifting routines (most importantly squat) and won't lose as much muscle. If he can keep his cardio up he should hit the ground running in April.

On air interview? Where did this come from that he’s healing well?

[PlayerUp]

He'll be back this season. Late Feb/Mid March seems possible. By then we should have another PF and I guess Pat will probably come off the bench.

Lonzo - Caruso
Lavine - Ayo
DeRozan - Jones
New PF - Pat
Vucevic - Another Vet

[NecessaryEvil]

He'll be back this season. Late Feb/Mid March seems possible. By then we should have another PF and I guess Pat will probably come off the bench.

Lonzo - Caruso
Lavine - Ayo
DeRozan - Jones
New PF - Pat
Vucevic - Another Vet

Where’s javonte?

[eierluke]

For a highly paid NBA player, there does not exist any excuse not to be in top shape when the season begins (except for illness or tragedy in your family)

Even with an injured leg there is no excuse for beeing exhausted, you do have enough money to rent a practice coach, a cook, a swimming pool or what else is necessary for conditioning

[StunnerKO]

https://youtu.be/xRKaKRQl6us



https://youtu.be/OiHg8e4Ntok



https://youtu.be/dq2vZIM3d7Q

Watch on YouTube

[sco]

https://youtu.be/xRKaKRQl6us



https://youtu.be/OiHg8e4Ntok



https://youtu.be/dq2vZIM3d7Q

Watch on YouTube

Yeah, would be good to have him! I will say that his j form (while a bit slow to gather) is very good. I think if we have him coming off the bench, he might feel more confident to shoot.

[DuckIII]

Why do so many of you think he’s coming back this spring? To this day I’ve seen no change in the “out for the season” part of the diagnosis.

[2weekswithpay]

Why do so many of you think he’s coming back this spring? To this day I’ve seen no change in the “out for the season” part of the diagnosis.

Read on Twitter

I don't expect him to come back but I've seen a lot of 4-6 months

[dougthonus]

Why do so many of you think he’s coming back this spring? To this day I’ve seen no change in the “out for the season” part of the diagnosis.

The Bulls report said 4-6 months. Woj reported out for the season. There has been no update one way or the other.

Four months would be March 1st, 6 months would be April 29th. If he can maintain conditioning (or build it back up) towards the end of his rehab, then in the best case scenarios a return this season is certainly possible.

I don't know how meaningful it would be though. Patrick Williams wasn't lighting the world on fire or providing any meaningful value prior to getting hurt. I doubt a four month layoff of basketball activity is going to have him come back and be ready to perform in the playoffs.

Even if he's available, I think it makes sense that he's only playing deep bench minutes unless he does surprisingly well in practice. He's a guy who needed to develop over the season and missed that opportunity. Coming in with four months of rust, even if technically possible, isn't likely to help the team in the playoffs.

[Michael Jackson]

Why do so many of you think he’s coming back this spring? To this day I’ve seen no change in the “out for the season” part of the diagnosis.

The Bulls report said 4-6 months. Woj reported out for the season. There has been no update one way or the other.

Four months would be March 1st, 6 months would be April 29th. If he can maintain conditioning (or build it back up) towards the end of his rehab, then in the best case scenarios a return this season is certainly possible.

I don't know how meaningful it would be though. Patrick Williams wasn't lighting the world on fire or providing any meaningful value prior to getting hurt. I doubt a four month layoff of basketball activity is going to have him come back and be ready to perform in the playoffs.

Even if he's available, I think it makes sense that he's only playing deep bench minutes unless he does surprisingly well in practice. He's a guy who needed to develop over the season and missed that opportunity. Coming in with four months of rust, even if technically possible, isn't likely to help the team in the playoffs.

The big value in the playoffs is that he might be some added fouls out there if they need to throw a body at some one. Also the experience of being on and around the team through that counts for something too. A savior? Unless something happened since he hasn’t been playing… like no chance.

[Wingy]

Why do so many of you think he’s coming back this spring? To this day I’ve seen no change in the “out for the season” part of the diagnosis.

Basically my question a few posts above. Everyone remembers the 4-6 months, but people started talking as if the 4 is looking like the reality now. But no one said where that came from.

[MrSparkle]

Pat played 5 games this season and got crucified.

9% usage on an all-new team; 67% TS.

Average handles and first step… but the combo of silky shooting and size give him potential.

I still see plenty advantage in just staying course with his development.

[dougthonus]

Pat played 5 games this season and got crucified.

9% usage on an all-new team; 67% TS.

Average handles and first step… but the combo of silky shooting and size give him potential.

I still see plenty advantage in just staying course with his development.

Certainly has percentage, but the 9% usage was the problem, especially given the team tried to get him looks and tried get him on ball opportunities and guys like Green and DJJ have higher usage while they aren't involved at all and never held the ball.

The TS% on such low usage is really irrelevant, because usage that low is pure opportunity basket level usage.

I don't know that Pat deserves to be crucified, if anything, I think while he was still playing the number of people irrationally optimistic about him was much higher than those irrationally pessimistic, but it doesn't really matter too much about how people felt through five games.

This year is probably a lost year more or less, hopefully he's able to be on the roster for the playoffs and gets the experience of the vibe / intensity and a few minutes here or there. If even better than that great, but it will mostly be about developing over the off-season now and coming into next year strong.

He's now kind of in the Wendell Carter boat where there are a lot of reasons why his development may have been slowed, and you will have to guess on him without really having as strong an idea of what he will potentially become and if you are giving up really good potential in a trade or whether you're selling while there is still some value there.

[TheFinishSniper]

Pat deserves all the best in world. Great career as flourist if he wants to be one, even better family, many children and wifes if he wants. I wont judge, follow great Lou Williams if you want too. He has my support in everything he does and wants to do except when he puts Bulls uniform. In that moment me and him will cross paths and I want him nothing but best just on different team.

As once great man said, "Not my tempo". That's how i feel about Pat as basketball player. Absolutely none can convince me he is any kind of positive future of Chicago Bulls.

[sco]

Pat played 5 games this season and got crucified.

9% usage on an all-new team; 67% TS.

Average handles and first step… but the combo of silky shooting and size give him potential.

I still see plenty advantage in just staying course with his development.

Certainly has percentage, but the 9% usage was the problem, especially given the team tried to get him looks and tried get him on ball opportunities and guys like Green and DJJ have higher usage while they aren't involved at all and never held the ball.

The TS% on such low usage is really irrelevant, because usage that low is pure opportunity basket level usage.

I don't know that Pat deserves to be crucified, if anything, I think while he was still playing the number of people irrationally optimistic about him was much higher than those irrationally pessimistic, but it doesn't really matter too much about how people felt through five games.

This year is probably a lost year more or less, hopefully he's able to be on the roster for the playoffs and gets the experience of the vibe / intensity and a few minutes here or there. If even better than that great, but it will mostly be about developing over the off-season now and coming into next year strong.

He's now kind of in the Wendell Carter boat where there are a lot of reasons why his development may have been slowed, and you will have to guess on him without really having as strong an idea of what he will potentially become and if you are giving up really good potential in a trade or whether you're selling while there is still some value there.

I think the right answer for Pat is have him come off the bench the rest of the season. I think it would help his willingness and opportunties to take shots. The starting PF position is a defense 1st, 5th offensive option, opportunistic scorer. Whether it's 9% or not is probably mostly about offense off of turnovers and busted plays.

Obviously, him coming back is dependant on his surgical success and recovery rate, which I'll be optimistic will get him back sometime in March. Getting him even 12 playoff minutes a game would be very helpful, IMO.

[Repeat 3-peat]

Hopefully we get another update on Pat sometime after New Years.

[DuckIII]

Pat plays the only position on the team where he can help us immediately pretty much no matter what. It’s not a question of if, it’s how much?

The biggest downside to Pat’s injury in the short term is that the franchise had committed so fully to him at the 4 for this season that they basically did with the 4 what they did with the point guard position last year: don’t have any.

Mentally, I’ve written him off for the year and won’t give it another thought unless we get a report saying he’s returning. But it would be nice to get him back. We need more bodies and options at the 4.

[Macallan]

Why do so many of you think he’s coming back this spring? To this day I’ve seen no change in the “out for the season” part of the diagnosis.

I have seen no updates on his return since his surgery.

[coldfish]

Pat played 5 games this season and got crucified.

9% usage on an all-new team; 67% TS.

Average handles and first step… but the combo of silky shooting and size give him potential.

I still see plenty advantage in just staying course with his development.

IMO, people are already forgetting about his ridiculously low energy level. Not helping, not cutting, etc. He was even passing up open 3's at times. The difference between him and Javonte is stark playing the same position.

He really looks Tony Snell-ish.

. . . and yeah, Tony Snell had a 9.5PER 71%ts last year for Atlanta and still, barely even a blip on the FA radar.