Patrick Williams starts his sixth season as Chicago's fourth-highest salary, coming off a 2025-26 line that never matched the paycheck. With Nic Claxton sidelined until early November, Tiago Splitter has frontcourt minutes to hand out, and Williams has to win them.
The money first. Williams makes $18.0M in 2026-27 and the same in 2027-28, then holds an $18.0M player option for 2028-29. Only Josh Giddey, Claxton and Norman Powell earn more. On a $164.3M payroll sitting under the cap, that is a real chunk tied to a forward who has not yet paid it back.
Last season, plainly. He played 72 games in 20.5 minutes a night and produced 7.0 points, 3.0 boards and 1.5 assists. He shot 37.2 percent from the floor, hit 34.7 percent on 3.8 threes a game and made 72.0 percent at the line. For a 25-year-old in year six, that is a reserve's stat line.
The advanced numbers hurt. His true shooting was 49.4 percent on a 15.9 usage rate, so he wasn't carrying a heavy load and still didn't score efficiently. His offensive rating was 103.8 and his defensive rating 114.8, a net of minus-11.0. The whole 31-51 team finished at minus-5.3.
Not filling gaps elsewhere. An assist rate of 10.1 percent and a rebound rate of 6.7 percent show he isn't making up for the shooting in other ways. With 0.7 steals and 0.4 blocks a game, he isn't a disruptor on defense either. When the shot isn't falling, the box score gives him nothing to stand on.
The opening is there. Claxton is out with a hamstring and is estimated back November 4. Over three games late last season with a teammate sidelined, Williams played 34 minutes a night, 14 above his norm. When bodies go down, the minutes come to him. What matters is what he does with them.
Miller is pushing. Leonard Miller has been playing 28.8 minutes a night over his last 10 games and logged 26 in Toronto. Pippen Ain't Easy argued this week that a Miller breakout would let Chicago stop relying on Williams. With Buzelis already owning the forward spotlight, Williams is the one who has to prove he belongs.
The verdict. Williams needs to be a low-maintenance forward who spaces the corner, guards the bigger wing and doesn't need the ball. That means threes above 35 percent on real volume and a net rating that stops bleeding. He's healthy and under contract for three seasons. In year one under Splitter, the excuses are gone.
How much is Patrick Williams being paid by the Bulls?
He makes $18.0M in 2026-27 and $18.0M in 2027-28, and he has an $18.0M player option for 2028-29.
Is Patrick Williams injured?
No. He is not on the injury report heading into the October 23 game at Milwaukee.
