Tonight marks the commencement of the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament’s Group Play phase. The Chicago Bulls are hosting the Brooklyn Nets at the newly revamped United Center court, featuring a unique theme in line with the tournament. In a notable move, Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan has made a significant decision for the season by removing fourth-year forward Patrick Williams from the starting lineup. Williams, who has started 150 out of his 175 career appearances, is experiencing a challenging contract season. The question arises whether Donovan’s decision to bench the 22-year-old forward is premature or whether it will ultimately benefit him and the starting unit.
Glad to see Billy Donovan make the move to put Torrey Craig in the starting line-up tonight. Craig’s defense & toughness will be a good fit with the starters & hopefully Patrick Williams will be more relaxed & get more shot opportunities coming off the bench.
— Mark Schanowski (@MarkSchanowski) November 3, 2023
The decision to bench Williams has been anticipated by many Bulls fans for several weeks. Signs of his decline have been evident since the preseason, and this change solidifies his reduced role. In the five games he started this season, the former Florida State forward has only averaged four points, three rebounds, and one assist per game. Additionally, he has committed six turnovers with just seven assists and has struggled with a low shooting percentage of 26.7% from the field, including a mere 12.5% from three-point range.
Williams faced early removal during the preseason due to a lack of effort and inability to adapt to the team’s requirements. Throughout the regular season, he has already been benched for entire fourth quarters and overtime periods, notably in the game against Toronto, during which he showed visible signs of frustration.
#Bulls Patrick Williams after seeking a $20M+/yr extension:
Game 1: 8pts, 3 rebs
Game 2: 3pts, 3 rebs
Game 3: 0 pts, 3 rebs
Game 4: 9 pts, 4 rebs
Game 5: 0 pts, 3 rebs
PWill has (likely) started to learn Mandarin Chinese in his spare time. pic.twitter.com/7dZEzDKbkA
— Die-Hard Chicago Bulls Fans (@DieHardCBfans) November 2, 2023
Replacing Patrick Williams in the starting lineup with Torrey Craig does not mean Williams will have a diminished impact on the game. Throughout his career, Williams has averaged nearly 28 minutes per game and started in 85.7% of his appearances. This change provides him with an opportunity to reset mentally, experience a change of scenery, and potentially enhance his offensive opportunities, as he will become the primary scoring option in the second unit.
Watch Patrick Williams in the back of this… Trade his ass now! If not send him to Windy City! pic.twitter.com/zjt4D7bl49
— Berk (@ChiBerk96) October 28, 2023
At 22 years of age and following his recent demand for a $200 million contract, Williams has come under heavy scrutiny just five games into the season. If his current performance continues, he is unlikely to receive an offer anywhere close to the value he believes he is worth. With a career average of 9.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, Williams has a lot to prove before securing such a lucrative deal.
Bulls forward Patrick Williams on his potential contract extension: “Obviously I want a big contract. I think that’s what I’ve worked for. I think that’s what I’m worth. But whenever it comes, it comes.” pic.twitter.com/CMruVGHYKz
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) October 23, 2023
After only one quarter in tonight’s experiment, Torrey Craig has already nearly matched Williams’s season-high rebound count and made half as many three-point shots as Williams has in the entire year. The article ends with questions about how long Donovan will stick with his decision and whether winning is the sole measure of success for this lineup change.