The Chicago Bulls just dropped to 19-22 on the season. This year has been a whirlwind for the franchise, seeing multiple five-game winning and losing streaks through the first half of the campaign. Every season around this time, questions start to arise about whether the Bulls will be sellers, buyers, or remain stagnant as the trade deadline approaches. Arturas Karnisovas has been traditionally quiet during this time of the year, much to the frustration of the majority of fans. Aside from the Nikola Vucevic blockbuster when Karnisovas first arrived, not many other splash moves in either direction have followed. This season, rumors have been running wild that the Bulls may be one of the hottest teams on the market for shipping off assets. After years of reluctance to move one player in particular, several recent reports indicate that the front office is finally willing to part ways with their struggling forward. Here’s who might be headed elsewhere, and potential suitors that have surfaced.
Admitting That Patrick Williams Is A Bust
AK’s first NBA Draft as the leader in the clubhouse for Chicago featured their highest draft selection since Derrick Rose was taken first overall. With the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Bulls selected Patrick Williams. After a somewhat promising rookie campaign that included an NBA All-Rookie Second Team nod, he failed to progress over the next several seasons. In July of 2024, to the disappointment and shock of most fans, he was inked to a massive five-year, $90-million extension. Over the last year and a half, this deal has quickly proven to be a mistake. Not only has he failed to progress further and cement his status as a suitable NBA starting-caliber player, but he’s regressed in nearly every statistical category, playing the fewest minutes of his entire career and nearing elimination from the rotation entirely. Many believe that the only reason he’s been granted the opportunities he has, including the unjustified new contract, is because he was Karnisovas’s first move as the front-office leader.
It’s crazy to think that Patrick Williams was a top 5 pick in the NBA draft pic.twitter.com/ItUHXRKHnB
— Brayden🍊 (@AllStarLaVine) January 8, 2026
Many fans in Chicago can agree that the massive whiff of a draft selection that Williams panned out to be played a significant role in the downfall over the last five years. It seems they may finally have come to terms with the fact that he is not, and will not become, the player they’d hoped he would be.
No Market For Patrick Williams
Nothing can surprise Bulls fans when it comes to the sixth-year former Florida State Seminole. Even though Chicago has reportedly thrown his name on the trade market as the deadline nears, nothing has surfaced regarding a new home. It would seem that the rest of the league has similarly come to realize that he’s injury-prone, ineffective offensively, has a low motor, and struggles to maintain the consistency needed at this level. Nonetheless, a career reset and a dumping of the asset off Chicago’s books would be best for both sides.
The Bulls are aggressively shopping Patrick Williams in trade talks, but no team appears interested.
Chicago signed Williams to a five-year, $90 million extension 18 months ago and have regretted it ever since.
Williams is playing a career-low 18.6 minutes per game this season. pic.twitter.com/iW36ZuJD6q
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) January 15, 2026
Is trading away Williams worth any return to rid the organization of the $18 million annual commitment? It may turn into an opposing front office throwing a low-grade draft pick or veteran on an expiring contract up as a flyer, and that’s a deal the Bulls should take.
If Patrick Williams remains on the roster beyond the trade deadline this season, Karnisovas will have failed at his job yet again.
