Report: Bulls open to trading former No. 4 pick Patrick Williams

The Chicago Bulls are ready to part ways with Patrick Williams.

Arturas Karnisovas, the Bulls' executive vice president of basketball operations, is open to trading the former fourth overall pick amid the forward's fifth season in Chicago, a source told Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Bulls coaches are reportedly frustrated with Williams' refusal to buy into what he's being asked to do.

The 23-year-old's development has stalled since 2020-21, when he averaged 9.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 71 starts as a rookie. He hasn't averaged more than 10.2 points in the four campaigns since, and his 3.8 rebounds per game this season are a career low.

Williams is one of just two players with at least 30 starts in 2024-25 and a 2-point field-goal percentage lower than 40%, according to Stathead. The other is Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley.

Injuries have also hindered the 6-foot-7 forward's early career: He missed all but 17 contests in Year 2 after dislocating his wrist in the fifth game of the season, and his 2023-24 campaign was cut short in January due to a stress reaction in his left foot.

However, offloading Williams may be easier said than done for the Bulls, who re-signed the Florida State product to a five-year, $90-million contract in July. That deal contains an $18-million player option in 2028-29, its final season.