Contract extensions for the rookie class of 2020 were due by 6:00 PM Eastern time earlier tonight, at which point teams could make a final offer to any of their first-round draft picks three years ago. For the Chicago Bulls, that meant reaching an agreement with former fourth-overall selection Patrick Williams. After rumors of Williams wanting “big, big numbers for his next contract… like, starts with a two and isn’t $20 million.” per ESPN’s Zach Lowe via the Lowe Post Podcast, it’s no wonder the two sides were unable to reach a deal before today’s cutoff. What does this mean for the 22-year-old’s payday this summer and future in the Windy City?
Restricted Free Agency Bound
In short, Patrick Williams failing to reach a deal with Chicago means that other teams will enter the bidding war. Before a few hours ago, the Bulls were the only team that could hold contract extension talks with the former Florida State forward, but now that the rookie extension deadline has passed, other organizations will now have the ability to submit their offers this summer.
As a restricted free agent, Williams will be able to sign an offer sheet with any team he desires, but the Bulls will be able to match any offers he may receive. Williams thinks he is worthy of an extension alongside the likes of the highest-paid players from his class, and Chicago is calling the bluff of teams around the NBA. Knowing that they’ve got the safety net of restricted free agency, they can now glimpse the potential price tag they’ll be paying before committing to the unknown commodity long term.
Mystery Value And Market
Being tasked with knowing what to do with Patrick Williams is undoubtedly a headache for Arturas Karnisovas. While Williams has been one of the league’s best defenders, he’s been essentially invisible at times on the offensive side, has shown a lack of effort and grit periodically, and has failed to show significant improvement since entering the league in 2020. His career points per game have risen one point since his rookie campaign, while his rebounds, assists, and field goal percentage have all three since regressed. Again this preseason, the former Seminole showed drastic highs and lows, scoring as much as 20 points on 57% shooting and as little as two points with a 1-for-4 shooting clip.
Fellow fourth-year players who did ink contract extensions earned anywhere from $7.5 million to $41 million annually over four or five seasons. If the recent rumors are true, Williams is viewing his value at $200 million, which only three players from his class have surpassed in their respective deals. Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, and Tyrese Haliburton each signed 5-year, $206 million contracts.
The difference, one might ask? Those three were named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, including Ball, the Rookie of the Year in the class. They’ve each got at least one NBA All-Star nod in their resume and averaged over 20 points per game at least once in their young careers. On the other hand, Williams was an NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection, has never received a single All-Star vote, and his season-high points per game is 10.2.
Yes, Haliburton, Ball, and Edwards were drafted to much less established franchises and have been given much more opportunity in terms of usage and freedom in playstyle. However, without evidence thus far of Williams being capable of a similar ceiling, Chicago would be foolish to dole out similar dough. Those three are NBA superstars. Patrick Williams is an unknown commodity and a role player to this point in his career.
Needless to say, this is as make-or-break of a season as it gets for the young wing. Williams will be playing for his future salary, whether in Chicago or elsewhere, and will need to take a significant leap in production to earn a deal close to the three above.
What is your prediction for the 22-year-old’s stat line this season, and where do you see him playing next year?
