Patrick Williams was once a young, two-way player with potential. Now he's an overpaid, offensive liability for a middling Eastern Conference team.
Ever since the Bulls signed Williams to a five-year, $90 million contract the forward has regressed as an asset. He averaged 9 points and 3.8 rebounds in 25 minutes a game last season.
After being eliminated in the play-in tournament, Chicago could be looking for a way to get Williams off the books and move in a different direction.
That's why a recent trade suggested by ESPN's Chris Herring could be exactly what the Bulls need.
Bulls trade Patrick Williams for RJ Barrett
This hypothetical deal would open up cap space for the Raptors while bringing a 21 point per game scorer to Chicago.
Bulls receive:
- RJ Barrett
Raptors receive:
- Patrick Williams
- Jevon Carter
- No. 12 overall pick
While Williams has an albatross contract, Barrett will actually cost the Bulls more. The difference is Barrett is a proven scorer while Williams has struggled since getting paid.
Chicago would acquire a volume shooter on a team that has a distributor in Josh Giddey that can get him the ball. It would raise the team's ceiling entering next season.
For the Raptors, they're due to pay Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and Brandon Ingram an estimated $142 million next season alone. Acquiring Williams would help them financially and they acquire a first-round pick in the process.
Herring also referenced how the trade could help the Raptors in a pursuit of Bucks' superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Chances are if the Bulls pulled off this trade there would be more moves to come, like shipping off veteran center Nikola Vucevic.
If it happens it would just be the beginning of a major transformation in Chicago.
MORE: Bulls' Josh Giddey gets $100 million free agency prediction