The Chicago Bulls select forward Patrick Williams #4 overall.

[AshyLarrysDiaper]

The one bankable observation about P Will was when Thad said he has the biggest hands he’s ever seen.

It looks that way on tape but I was glad to hear it confirmed.

[Mindcrime]

That's a bit underwhelming to be honest.

What does this band of losers know about "getting it" anyway?

Article is a rehash of quotes from pressers which were somewhat PR scripted. I'll believe "he gets it" when he shows it on the court in regular season games.

I believe that he gets it. Its just that 'getting it' is overrated. There are maybe some players that don't (possibly Otto Porter as an example), but I'd bet that Zach LaVine gets it. I'd bet that Ryan Archidiacono gets it. Yet despite getting it, Zach still has considerable flaws and Archidiacono just lacks the talent to be more than a borderline rotation player.

Getting it is certainly great, no doubt, but the questions about Williams aren't around desire, work ethic, how good a guy he is, etc, etc, the questions are whether he has the skills or athleticism to become a high level player.

A great defender's fundamentals definetely start with "getting it" so I think it's huge actually. We have seen great talents who don't and we know the result - Wiggins, Kwame, Tyrus etc.

[fleet]

I don't get the nitpicky athleticism questions, where they come from, but the skills questions seem apt. It looks like he has a good base to start with however. Question will be if a player can put it on the floor under pressure. But anyways, few more days to some decent answers. I don't expect much this year. He's a mature kid, but that is almost never enough for most players. Especially with no summer.

[coldfish]

I don't get the athleticism questions, where they come from, but the skills questions seem apt. I don't have many doubts about most of it, question will be if a player can puit it on the floor under pressure. But anyways, few more days to some decent answers

The time I spent watching his college film showed a really different player. He was rather stiff moving around the court and not particularly fast or quick. His college game film was not that of an athletic player and he really moved like an undersized 4, not a 3.

The workout videos are interesting in that he didn't look anything like that in college. I generally try not to put much stock in those kind of videos or offseason quotes, etc. but it gets my interest because it would be like watching a video of Shaq taking step back 3's off the dribble in a scrimmage and looking good doing so. You would be surprised if he ever did it, regardless of circumstance.

[othawhitemeat]

I want everyone to proceed with caution with all of the Pat hype. Most of the things we've seen in workout videos he had shown off during his freshman season. He has always had an underrated handle and his biggest offensive strength was his off the bounce mid range game. However these things he's good at, he wont necessarily get to unlock until he proves to be a three point threat. Teams will sag off of him when he has the ball and until he proves he is a viable flor spacer off ball, teams will probably over help on the weak side. Defensively I dont really have many worries outside of figuring things out as a young player. Tremendous talent that will have some fun early flashes that really pop but I think it will be a process.

I expect something like a WC rookie year (without a major injury, optimistically) from PWill. Carter showed some good defense and the occasional offensive burst, but I think foul troubles will be an issue; however, as a likely bench player, he won't likely foul out much.

A SF version of Wendell without injuries is very good or Luol Dengish. If he can develop a 3, watch out.

[othawhitemeat]

The one bankable observation about P Will was when Thad said he has the biggest hands he’s ever seen.

It looks that way on tape but I was glad to hear it confirmed.

Big hands is a big deal with many regards and especially basketball. Brand, Jordan, Kawhi have all been mentioned for having large hands.

[fleet]

The time I spent watching his college film showed a really different player. He was rather stiff moving around the court and not particularly fast or quick. His college game film was not that of an athletic player and he really moved like an undersized 4, not a 3.

The workout videos are interesting in that he didn't look anything like that in college. I generally try not to put much stock in those kind of videos or offseason quotes, etc. but it gets my interest because it would be like watching a video of Shaq taking step back 3's off the dribble in a scrimmage and looking good doing so. You would be surprised if he ever did it, regardless of circumstance.

There are a lot of different athletes. Some are stiffer than others, but still athletic. The athleticism discussion is always interesting. And if you aren't a fluid SF like TMac you sometimes get labeled as not being the elite athlete. Ron Artest for example. Huge man. Never to be confused with the elite athlete. But he is a superior athlete. Good enough to be able to use his size as a lethal weapon. Patrick might be in that vein. Deng, again he had the athleticism questions, but it always was specious imo. I don't know on what planet he wasn't a good athlete. His mind made up any deficit you could talk about. There are tons of people that move efficiently too, so efficiently that they look effortless, and they aren't doing anything special. It looks to me that Patrick is an anticipatory defender from what little we have seen, and is athletic enough to use that to his advantage with his focus, and preparation which project well. We often don't include in this discussion the biggest muscle, which is between the ears.

[kulaz3000]

[TheStig]

I don't get the athleticism questions, where they come from, but the skills questions seem apt. I don't have many doubts about most of it, question will be if a player can puit it on the floor under pressure. But anyways, few more days to some decent answers

The time I spent watching his college film showed a really different player. He was rather stiff moving around the court and not particularly fast or quick. His college game film was not that of an athletic player and he really moved like an undersized 4, not a 3.

The workout videos are interesting in that he didn't look anything like that in college. I generally try not to put much stock in those kind of videos or offseason quotes, etc. but it gets my interest because it would be like watching a video of Shaq taking step back 3's off the dribble in a scrimmage and looking good doing so. You would be surprised if he ever did it, regardless of circumstance.

The reason I think this year is different is because there was a 9 month layoff between when college basketball ended and the draft. So if he hired a trainer and really busted his butt, then it makes sense he skyrocketed and showed something in athletic ability. He looked pretty pudgy in college. If he trimmed down and trained, I can see the freak coming out.

Then again, this could be like all the Tyrus Thomas has added to his game threads.

[fleet]

I don’t see it, but to each his own. He’s so big, so he’s learned to move efficiently. Which doesn’t look thte same. By these standards, Sean Elliot was not athletic enough to play the position. Pat is just as athletic if not even more athletic, just 20-25 lbs heavier. I think the only question is skill level.

[fleet]

These big guys like Artest, Deng, Butler, Mashburn, they get short changed on athletic ability questions. But they are all great athletes. Pat is suffering the same way. Unless you’re like Shawn Kemp or Scottie Pippen when so massive, you don’t get the athlete label. Its like eyeball bias.

[coldfish]

These big guys like Artest, Deng, Butler, Mashburn, they get short changed on athletic ability questions. But they are all great athletes. Pat is suffering the same way. Unless you’re like Shawn Kemp or Scottie Pippen when so massive, you don’t get the athlete label. Its like eyeball bias.

Maybe the stuff I'm seeing is the wrong games but he really moves slow and doesn't get up quick. On court, I wouldn't put him in the same sentence as Artest and Butler.

[dougthonus]

gets my interest because it would be like watching a video of Shaq taking step back 3's off the dribble in a scrimmage and looking good doing so. You would be surprised if he ever did it, regardless of circumstance.

I saw Ben Wallace knock down about 2/3rds or so of his corner 3 point attempts in warm ups once. He probably shot like 15-20 of them and was making around 2 in 3, maybe more. Not that this relates to anything really except that NBA players shooting with no pressure, plenty of time, and repetition from the same spot are probably generally pretty good even when they're really awful at a shot in a game.

[fleet]

These big guys like Artest, Deng, Butler, Mashburn, they get short changed on athletic ability questions. But they are all great athletes. Pat is suffering the same way. Unless you’re like Shawn Kemp or Scottie Pippen when so massive, you don’t get the athlete label. Its like eyeball bias.

Maybe the stuff I'm seeing is the wrong games but he really moves slow and doesn't get up quick. On court, I wouldn't put him in the same sentence as Artest and Butler.

We’re gonna see. As a basketball player, probably not. Athletic wise, I don’t have a problem putting him there close with those guys. I think he’s the same athlete as Quintel Woods. Ahleticism wasn't his issue.

[RedBulls23]

I don’t see it, but to each his own. He’s so big, so he’s learned to move efficiently. Which doesn’t look thte same. By these standards, Sean Elliot was not athletic enough to play the position. Pat is just as athletic if not even more athletic, just 20-25 lbs heavier. I think the only question is skill level.

I'm with fleet here. I watch his film, and I don't see someone stiff. He's a good athlete, and his blk and stl rates could allude to that as well.

You see him being a distributor on defense with his length and his athleticism sticks out on the open court and on defense when he's able to help out on the perimeter and then recover and get the block at the rim.

[TheFinishSniper]

The one bankable observation about P Will was when Thad said he has the biggest hands he’s ever seen.

It looks that way on tape but I was glad to hear it confirmed.

Big hands is a big deal with many regards and especially basketball. Brand, Jordan, Kawhi have all been mentioned for having large hands.

Big hands. Krause gave thumbs up from heaven for draft selection.

[dougthonus]

The one bankable observation about P Will was when Thad said he has the biggest hands he’s ever seen.

It looks that way on tape but I was glad to hear it confirmed.

Big hands is a big deal with many regards and especially basketball. Brand, Jordan, Kawhi have all been mentioned for having large hands.

Big hands. Krause gave thumbs up from heaven for draft selection.

I had to delete my post because this was just a much classier version of the same joke I wanted to make

[othawhitemeat]

Big hands is a big deal with many regards and especially basketball. Brand, Jordan, Kawhi have all been mentioned for having large hands.

Big hands. Krause gave thumbs up from heaven for draft selection.

I had to delete my post because this was just a much classier version of the same joke I wanted to make

That was part of my first sentence. You can make a lot of comments w big hands.

[SHO'NUFF]

If Otto Porter Jr is athletic enough to play SF.....then so can Patrick Williams.

[thedarkstark]

Then again, this could be like all the Tyrus Thomas has added to his game threads.

He did add quite a few skills the problem was mainly that he had a ridiculously low basketball IQ and was a horrible decision maker. He also didnt love the game and after that 2nd contract he completely checked out mentally.

By all accounts Pat is the polar opposite, hard worker and loves the game