The Bulls have finally started rebuilding. How should they start?
With the firing of Marc Eversley and Artūras Karnišovas, it seems the Bulls finally learned their lesson. It's time to rebuild.
The Bulls have been mediocre for years. They have landed in the play-in for the past 3 years, often missing the playoffs altogether. With a core built around Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic, the Bulls were never able to get over the hump. It seems they've realized this, as everyone previously mentioned has been traded.
It's clear, they need to tank, but how should they go about this?
The Bulls are moving in the right direction, moving off of veterans in favor of young talent. But there are still steps to take. One of these steps is to clear salary and open minutes for young players. From an overall perspective, there is one clear move they need to make.
Patrick Williams was drafted 4th overall in the 2020 draft and had plenty of potential to be a great 3-and-D in the NBA. After a good year in 2024, where Williams averaged 10 points and played good defense, he signed a 5-year, $90 million contract with a 5th-year player-option. This price seemed high at the time, but with Williams' upward development, it seemed worthwhile.
It didn't quite go that way.
Patrick Williams regressed a lot. In the following years, Williams' efficiency sank to career lows. He struggled to maintain his aggressiveness defensively and became an overall negative player. It became clear that Chicago messed up with his contract, and with an even worse 2025-26 season, Williams became one of the worst contracts in the NBA. He found himself ranking among the lowest in efficiency among others in his pay grade, and the numbers back it up, too.
Players above the line are outperforming their current salary. Players below it are not.
Williams sits near the bottom of this group, being among the least efficient contracts in his salary group.
Although there is hope for development, as Williams is still young, it doesn't seem as though this development will be on the Bulls.
Despite upside defensively, Williams has yet to match his production with the investment made in him.
What should they do?
The Bulls need to move off of Williams. Going into a rebuild, financial flexibility is a must for the Bulls, and Williams' contract makes this very difficult to achieve. It will come at a cost to trade his contract, but long-term flexibility will make it worthwhile. The Bulls need to find a team able and willing to take in this contract, and I think I know exactly who could do that.
How should they do it?
Milwaukee Bucks receive: (F) Patrick Williams, 2026 1st round-pick (via POR), 2027 second round-pick (via DEN)
Chicago Bulls receive: (F) Kyle Kuzma
Why this works:
With the Bucks moving into a re-tool/rebuild, likely including a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, they should be looking towards the future. The Bucks don't have access to their future picks, so taking in bad contracts is crucial for recuperating lost draft capital. The Bucks also take a swing on Patrick Williams, who has the potential to develop into a good piece.
For the Bulls, this trade works on multiple levels.
This move isn't about Kyle Kuzma as a player, rather what his contract offers. He holds a net rating of -6.6, worse than his team's overall net rating, so he won't meaningfully impact their win total. Furthermore, Kuzma only has one year left on his deal after this season, and his contract is front-loaded, meaning it decreases in value each year. His contract is simply cleaner than Williams', giving the Bulls clarity in their long-term financial flexibility.
The cost? A Portland Trail Blazers first-round pick, landing just outside the lottery. The Bulls maintain their own 1st round pick this year.
With this trade, the Bulls finally have a path clear of financial burden, allowing full focus on their future.
For the first time in years, Chicago has direction.
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