Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls, 24, fourth overall pick in 2020, signed a 90 million extension but his on-court impact hasn’t matched the investment.

In 2025 he averaged 9.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG and 2.0 APG over 63 games; health and role have limited his ceiling. Bleacher Report pegged him among the league’s most overpaid players at an average salary around 18M.

With time still on his side, Williams’ path to relevance hinges on durability, role clarity and shooting efficiency as his contract matures.

Josh Giddey signed four years, $100 million with the Chicago Bulls, a mid-point reached after a lengthy negotiation. The deal gives Chicago a ball-dominant playmaker whose raw totals look strong, but questions linger about efficiency, off-ball shooting, and defense. The move tightens the Bulls’ payroll with unclear spacing implications, inviting scrutiny of how the rest of the roster—Vučević, Williams, White—will complement him. The result feels like a calculated risk that may only edge Chicago toward play-in lethargy rather than a true upgrade.

Chicago’s plan around Giddey highlights a wider roster puzzle: can the Bulls assemble reliable spacing and scoring around a high-usage guard and still maximize floor balance? With White not extended, Vučević still on the roster, and Williams at roughly $18 million, the team’s direction looks murky, draft strategy appears limited, and the potential ceiling remains uncertain.

Overall, the deal signals risk over immediate uplift. Without a bold, coherent plan to maximize Giddey’s strengths and mitigate his weaknesses, Chicago risks stagnation rather than a meaningful leap forward.

Bulls' 2025-26 hinges on Patrick Williams' upside, but Okoro's arrival adds a defensive hedge and could siphon Williams' minutes if he doesn't prove offensive consistency.

Lonzo Ball's exit to Cleveland opens guard-rotation questions; Okoro's progress could lift Chicago's defense while Williams' development would boost his trade value. Nikola Vucevic remains central, with the front office weighing lineup tweaks to keep a fast, defense-first edge.

The mix is kaleidoscopic: Williams' five-year, $90M deal, Okoro's 3-and-D floor, and a repositioned guard core all shape Williams' fantasy ceiling and Chicago's long-term pivot.