The Chicago Bulls select forward Patrick Williams #4 overall.

[CjayC]

Full video here:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CHym2d8BfPb/?igshid=1pvqv11tydszb

I like what I see. Obviously they aren't going all out defensively, but looks like he's slowly developing a smoothness to his game, he's always in the right gear. Doesn't look totally uncomfortable with his off-hand either.

[Chi town]

When someone gives Jerami Grant 20 million/year over the next few days people will start to feel better about the pick because Grant is Williams' floor.

No it isn't. Do people not know how floor/ceiling works?

We have plenty of NBA washouts with similar profiles. Grant turned himself into an excellent shooter and efficient scorer. Without that, he'd be close to the league minimum. We have no guarantees that Williams can get there as a shooter or scorer.

True. Grant learned to shoot. He put in the work and now he’s a winning player and about to be paid.

[bad knees]

Here's another interesting article on Williams from the Ringer (apologies if it has already been posted).
https://www.theringer.com/nba/2020/11/10/21556874/2020-nba-draft-patrick-williams-florida-state

I am on the PWill bandwagon, if only because I see this draft as a complete crapshoot and I trust AK based on what he has done with the FO and the coaching staff. I see a lot of upside in PWill, especially if I use my Bulls-colored glasses.

One interesting point mentioned in this article is that it claims that, as of the day that the article was written (11/10/20), Williams had not worked out in front of any teams, even in the one-on-none situations that were allowed under the pandemic rules. This seems important because many of us have been naturally assuming that AK was able to see where PWill stands now in his skill development, and to assess what he has been working on since the season ended and how he has improved. Most importantly, we have been assuming that PWill in fact has been working hard and has improved in demonstrable ways. If AK was limited to the tape that was available as of March 2020, then that raises questions about why Williams rose up the draft board to 4.

I have not read/watched everything that has come out about PWill. Do we in fact have evidence that the Bulls saw him play basketball in the months leading up to the draft? In AK's post-draft interview, I think he just mentioned having spent time with him and watching game tape. If not, do we even has specific information about what PWill has been working on, and with whom? Have we seen any video of his quarantine workouts? I have seen no such information. I think the videos that I have seen are from the pre-quarantine time period, and I have only seen PWill making general statements about having worked hard during the quarantine. For example, here's an article from Nov 13 in which PWill is interviewed and declines to talk about team workouts and provides only general info about his private workouts. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2020/11/12/positionless-patrick-williams-intriguing-draft-prospect-pistons/6264523002/ Anybody have any better information?

Honestly, I hope that isn't true. If they're the type of team who reaches for a guy based on a workout, then we're in for another bad tenure.

I'd hope they identified his character, traits, and production to determine his potential. They were so silent, they may have had him 4 this entire offseason.

AK said they were ready to make their pick in June insinuating PW was their guy back then based on everything you listed above.

KC I believe tweeted that PW did do a workout for the Bulls and it seems that was the only workout he may have done. That’d be interesting considering DET and SA loved him without seeing him workout?

Wonder when the video above came out and if PW has been playing pickup games the whole lockdown? If so it’s surprising no videos have surfaced. Who is his agent? Wasserman?

Further research shows that Jeremy Woo of SI reported on 11/17 that PWill had worked out for the Bulls.

Read on Twitter

So it appears we did see him work out, and we perhaps were the only team that did. Interesting and makes sense - Williams held off and worked out for the Bulls in the hope of going 4, which ended up happening.

[cjbulls]

That’s the brilliance of the pick on several levels.

1. PW has a very high floor similar to OG Anunoby coming out. A winning versatile defensive player. I believe this will translate right away.

2. Due to age, base skill set, and frame/athletic profile PW has the highest ceiling in the draft IMO.

3. PW is the prototype for the most important position in the NBA right now. Wing.

4. We do not have one modern NBA wing on our roster. OPJ is a shooter but due to health I don’t see him here past this season and Hutch even if healthy doesn’t have the offensive package to create or playmake. PW fits our greatest need.

I can see an offensive system built on Zach and Coby getting lots of 3s and transition buckets. Lauri as a floor spacing shooter and WCJ as a facilitator and lob threat. If Coby and Zach are legit we need excellent defense, rebounding and IQ from the wing spot. I think PW can be that early. If he can be more than that and eventually initiate offense then we have the foundation for something that can work. I’m not banking on Lauri becoming more than a spot up shooter or WCJ more than a Steven Adam’s type.

As crazy as it sounds, Dotson becomes our 3rd player than can get his own shot off the bounce. I could see him becoming valuable for us. I expect a whole new team outside of Zach Coby and PW after this season.

The underlined hyperbole needs to stop. The top 3 guys all have higher ceilings and it's not debateable. Likelihood of reaching it may change based on personality and work ethic (which Williams profiles for ahead of the top 3), but all 3 can do things Williams only dreams of right now.

The italicized remains suspect. He looks more like a 4 to me long term and I'm not alone in that view, as much I would want him to be a wing.

I disagree. None of the top 3 are the wing I'm talking about. Edwards is a big guard with awful D and low IQ. Melo doesn't play D and his shot is fixable to below average IMO. Wiseman is an athletic specimen that doesn't and won't have a 3 ball IMO and he's a C... the least important position in the pros.

Not only do I think PW has the highest ceiling but I think based on what we know from background and continued improvement he is more likely to reach it. I could be totally wrong but I don't get those reaching potential vibes from Edwards and Melo. I do from Wiseman but I just don't think his position is important enough.

On a basic level, if you're saying a guy has a low ceiling because he doesn't play D then you're ignoring the whole concept of a ceiling.

Edwards has shown he can be a lock down defender, but his energy/effort is mixed (putting it nicely). Now, I am not saying that means he will, in fact he likely won't, be a good defender. But his ceiling is great defender and 25-30pt scorer with middling bball iq.

Wiseman's a potential All-NBA center with his size and athleticism.

And Ball is a Luka type do-it-all scorer/distributor.

Williams has no elite skills other than size/strength for a 3. He's a jack of all trades, so he needs something to set him apart to get a ceiling near those guys.

[gobullschi]

The underlined hyperbole needs to stop. The top 3 guys all have higher ceilings and it's not debateable. Likelihood of reaching it may change based on personality and work ethic (which Williams profiles for ahead of the top 3), but all 3 can do things Williams only dreams of right now.

The italicized remains suspect. He looks more like a 4 to me long term and I'm not alone in that view, as much I would want him to be a wing.

What specifically makes you think that he can’t play the 3?

In FSU clips, he doesn't look very fluid laterally. I think the feet/hips are issues. He can play it fine now because he's light, but what happens as he gets bigger and stronger, which is definitely going to happen with his frame. Most young combo forwards play their way out of the 3 position.

Which small forwards in the league do you think he won’t be able to stay in front of?

[Chi town]

If we were the only team for a workout and he wowed and AK somehow got him to stay silent and he turns out... AK AKing

[cjbulls]

What specifically makes you think that he can’t play the 3?

In FSU clips, he doesn't look very fluid laterally. I think the feet/hips are issues. He can play it fine now because he's light, but what happens as he gets bigger and stronger, which is definitely going to happen with his frame. Most young combo forwards play their way out of the 3 position.

Which small forwards in the league do you think he won’t be able to stay in front of?

It has nothing to do with defensively. Its about offensively who can he go by.

[gobullschi]

In FSU clips, he doesn't look very fluid laterally. I think the feet/hips are issues. He can play it fine now because he's light, but what happens as he gets bigger and stronger, which is definitely going to happen with his frame. Most young combo forwards play their way out of the 3 position.

Which small forwards in the league do you think he won’t be able to stay in front of?

It has nothing to do with defensively. Its about offensively who can he go by.

Ok... which small forwards in the league do you think he won’t be able to go by?

[TheFinishSniper]

So it appears we did see him work out, and we perhaps were the only team that did. Interesting and makes sense - Williams held off and worked out for the Bulls in the hope of going 4, which ended up happening.

Pat himself after being drafted during interviews with reporters on Twitter confirmed he had workout with Bulls. So that's not new news. He also didnt want mention for who else he had workouts. He said he worked out for Bulls which at the end proven be right decision.

[Bankshot]

Full video here:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CHym2d8BfPb/?igshid=1pvqv11tydszb

Friggin money lol...hope it's a sign of things to come!

[cjbulls]

Which small forwards in the league do you think he won’t be able to stay in front of?

It has nothing to do with defensively. Its about offensively who can he go by.

Ok... which small forwards in the league do you think he won’t be able to go by?

That’s a big request. It’s a bit like asking which SFs can Lauri get by. I’m not listing out small forwards. Let’s stick to the bulls. He can get by Denzel but would struggle with Hutch.

[VolumePoster]

Full video here:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CHym2d8BfPb/?igshid=1pvqv11tydszb

I like what I see. Obviously they aren't going all out defensively, but looks like he's slowly developing a smoothness to his game, he's always in the right gear. Doesn't look totally uncomfortable with his off-hand either.

Holy Bejesus. Alright, I get the attraction. He does have excellent fluidity and quickness for his size. And his head on the put back dunk...

Carry on, AK.

[gobullschi]

It has nothing to do with defensively. Its about offensively who can he go by.

Ok... which small forwards in the league do you think he won’t be able to go by?

That’s a big request. It’s a bit like asking which SFs can Lauri get by. I’m not listing out small forwards. Let’s stick to the bulls. He can get by Denzel but would struggle with Hutch.

It’s not that tall of a task at all. Let’s shrink it down to the Eastern Conference then. If your going to have this hard stance that he can’t be effective as a small forward, you need to back it up. I’m looking at the forwards in the Eastern Conference, and I think the list is smaller than your making it out to be.

[nomorezorro]

i think it's pretty fair to question williams's one-on-one offensive upside against other wings. most of the clips i've seen highlighting his "flashes of shot creation" are him taking a couple of dribbles for a midrange pullup.

i do think it's possible that his handle and passing is stronger than he was allowed to show as a rookie in a spread-the-wealth offensive system at fsu, but i wouldn't bank on it. either way, he's probably coming into the league as a spot-up guy who can maybe leverage his athleticism to attack closeouts. that's still a potentially useful offensive player!

[cjbulls]

Ok... which small forwards in the league do you think he won’t be able to go by?

That’s a big request. It’s a bit like asking which SFs can Lauri get by. I’m not listing out small forwards. Let’s stick to the bulls. He can get by Denzel but would struggle with Hutch.

It’s not that tall of a task at all. Let’s shrink it down to the Eastern Conference then. If your going to have this hard stance that he can’t be effective as a small forward, you need to back it up. I’m looking at the forwards in the Eastern Conference, and I think the list is smaller than your making it out to be.

There’s a heck of a lot of no’s here.

Jaylen/Tatum- no
siakam/Og - no
Butler- no
Durant- unknown post injury
Middleton - no
Okoro - no
Knox - no
Thybulle - no
Warren - yes
Ross - no
Harris - yes
Reddish/Hunter - no
Ariza - yes
Bridges - no

[gobullschi]

That’s a big request. It’s a bit like asking which SFs can Lauri get by. I’m not listing out small forwards. Let’s stick to the bulls. He can get by Denzel but would struggle with Hutch.

It’s not that tall of a task at all. Let’s shrink it down to the Eastern Conference then. If your going to have this hard stance that he can’t be effective as a small forward, you need to back it up. I’m looking at the forwards in the Eastern Conference, and I think the list is smaller than your making it out to be.

There’s a heck of a lot of no’s here.

Jaylen/Tatum- no
siakam/Og - no
Butler- no
Durant- unknown post injury
Middleton - no
Okoro - no
Knox - no
Thybulle - no
Warren - yes
Ross - no
Harris - yes
Reddish/Hunter - no
Ariza - yes
Bridges - no

This is interesting. I think you could argue a lot of the guys marked “no” are up for debate. Are we really worried about Knox, Tatum, Ross, & Reddish/Hunter?

Of the guys you marked “no”, how many of them can blow past PatWill?

[johnnyvann840]

Full video here:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CHym2d8BfPb/?igshid=1pvqv11tydszb

I like what I see. Obviously they aren't going all out defensively, but looks like he's slowly developing a smoothness to his game, he's always in the right gear. Doesn't look totally uncomfortable with his off-hand either.

Not only does he "not look totally uncomfortable with his off hand", he actually looks GREAT with it. One of the first things I noticed about him is that he uses both hands really well. He can dribble, finish and throw one handed bullet passes on the money with both hands. It's a rare trait for somebody so young to be that ambidextrous.

[mtron32]

Full video here:

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CHym2d8BfPb/?igshid=1pvqv11tydszb

Nice!!!

A lot to like in that video. Obviously pickup setting. Think it was Donovan Mitchell. Several NBA guys in there.

I like the handle and the fadeaway from the post.

That fadaway was pretty, cannot wait for this season to start

[2018C3]

This Bulls fan created this youtube video almost two months ago on Patrick Williams.

[url]

Watch on YouTube

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Even though Patrick was not on the majority of Bulls fans radar, this fan saw something early on and made a nice video on him back in September.

You got to give credit, where it is due. If you watch the whole video, At 45 second's he coughs and says "Chicago Bulls", The guy either had good foresight, or possibly heard something before making this particular video. (especially since he does not have videos posted of any other prospects).

The first two minutes of the video is a little weird, but the information presented after that was interesting to see.

[cjbulls]

It’s not that tall of a task at all. Let’s shrink it down to the Eastern Conference then. If your going to have this hard stance that he can’t be effective as a small forward, you need to back it up. I’m looking at the forwards in the Eastern Conference, and I think the list is smaller than your making it out to be.

There’s a heck of a lot of no’s here.

Jaylen/Tatum- no
siakam/Og - no
Butler- no
Durant- unknown post injury
Middleton - no
Okoro - no
Knox - no
Thybulle - no
Warren - yes
Ross - no
Harris - yes
Reddish/Hunter - no
Ariza - yes
Bridges - no

This is interesting. I think you could argue a lot of the guys marked “no” are up for debate. Are we really worried about Knox, Tatum, Ross, & Reddish/Hunter?

Of the guys you marked “no”, how many of them can blow past PatWill?

And now you get to why I didn't want to bother with this exercise. You’ll just say it should be yes. It was pointless for me to go through it all.

It's not whether we're worried about these guys. It's about being a star. If you have a lot of maybe's then he's not a star or even remotely close. He's just a role player, with your #4 pick.