The Chicago Bulls are making headlines for all the wrong reasons this offseason! After a disappointing 2024-25 season, the team is pointing fingers at forward Patrick Williams, telling the young star he’s on his own to turn things around. With a hefty contract and no trade prospects, the Bulls’ gamble on Williams is looking like a massive misstep. Buckle up, Bulls fans—this drama is heating up!

A Season of Regrets and Williams’ Struggles

The Bulls’ season ended in disaster, with a 109-90 blowout loss to the Miami Heat in the Play-In Tournament, crushing their hopes of a top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Chicago’s front office has been criticized for clinging to an overly optimistic view of their roster, leading to costly decisions like Zach LaVine’s Super Max deal—and now, the Patrick Williams saga.

Selected as the No. 4 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Williams was seen as a cornerstone for the Bulls’ future. Last summer, they signed him to a five-year, $90 million extension, expecting the 23-year-old to blossom into a star. Instead, Williams regressed, posting career lows in scoring (9 points per game), rebounding (3.8 per game), three-point percentage, and field-goal percentage.

According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bulls have had enough. “The Bulls basically told Williams things are now on him,” Cowley reported. The team tried everything—assigning multiple developmental coaches, using tough love by benching him, and giving him unearned minutes to boost his confidence. They even handed him a massive contract as a “security blanket.” But Williams’ lackluster performance has left the Bulls frustrated, and they’re now taking a sink-or-swim approach.

The kicker? That $90 million deal makes Williams virtually untradeable. No team wants to take on his contract given his underwhelming stats, leaving the Bulls stuck with a player who needs a fresh start but has nowhere to go. “The very definition of a player who needs a change of address to save his career,” Cowley wrote.

Can Williams Turn It Around?

Will Patrick Williams rise to the challenge and prove his worth, or is he destined to be another Bulls bust? Can Chicago salvage their roster and finally kickstart a rebuild.