How Patrick Williams Can Finally Blossom in Chicago

Patrick Williams is still discovering his game. Selected fourth overall as a raw prospect with elite physical traits, Williams’ early career trajectory has been defined by shifting expectations and an evolving role under ex-head coach Billy Donovan. Donovan initially tested Williams with isolation touches, mid-range pull-ups, and perimeter shot creation opportunities, hoping he would develop into a dynamic two-way wing. Over time, however, as those perimeter experiments stalled, Donovan’s mandate pivoted toward basic motor, rebounding, and fast-deciding 3-and-D fundamentals—leaving Williams constantly calibrating what is asked of him. This developmental turbulence mirrors Aaron Gordon’s early career in Orlando. Drafted fourth overall in 2014, Gordon spent six seasons miscast as a primary perimeter creator, wrestling with high-lottery expectations and inefficient scoring numbers before trading scenery to Denver in Year 7. It was only after that time and structural shift, pivoting away from forced creation into a high-impact connector, lockdown defender, and athletic finisher that Gordon finally blossomed into a championship-caliber weapon.

Williams possesses the exact physical tools to follow a similar blueprint. With his broad chest, lateral quickness, ideal wing length, and explosive athletic profile, he has every physical prerequisite needed to thrive as a high value, modern frontcourt enforcer. In today's NBA, a forward who can absorb contact against elite wing scorers, crash the glass, hit open corner threes, and make quick decisions off the catch is an extraordinarily valuable commodity. Embracing an "Aaron Gordon role" wouldn't represent a regression for Williams; rather, it would optimize his natural physical advantages into a high-impact archetype every winning franchise desperately seeks.

Unlocking that specific dynamic in Chicago, however, won't come without structural hurdles. The Bulls' frontcourt environment does not make this transition easy, as center Nic Claxton provides a vastly different dynamic than the unique Nikola Jokić and Aaron Gordon combination in Denver. Where Jokić operates as a generational passing hub who routinely rewards Gordon’s weak-side cuts with elite vision, Claxton is a mobile, rim-protecting, dive-to-the-dunk-spot center who occupies similar interior real estate. There is no playmaking center in Chicago to manufacture easy looks for Williams out of thin air.

Yet, for Williams to truly blossom, he cannot wait for a perfect offensive ecosystem to materialize. To fulfill his potential, Williams must take ownership of his physical tools, embrace the dirty work, and find ways to make a Gordon-like impact crashing the glass, setting hard screens, enforcing on defense, and executing with relentless energy regardless of how the floor is spaced around him.