Patrick Williams shoul🐲d be fꦏeeling the heat as training camp nears.
🅺While the 23-year-old secured himself some generational wealth this offseason, this means the expectations have only risen. Many have already questioned whether or not Williams is worth the five-🍬year, $90.0 million deal handed to him. And that sure feels like a fair ask when we consider the other deals signed in this most recent free-agent class.
Top 5 Restricted Free Agent Contracts
1. Tyrese Maxey – Five years, $203.9 million
2. Immanuel Quickley – Five years, $162.5 million
3. Patrick Williams – Five years, $90.0 million
4. Obi Toppin – Four years, $58.0 million
5. Aaron Wiggins – Four years, $45.0 million
Top 10 Free Agent Contracts (including unrestricted players)
1. OG Anunoby – Five years, $212.5 million
2. Paul George – Four years, $211.6 million
3. Tyrese Maxey – Five years, $203.9 million
4. Pascal Siakam – Four years, $189.0 million
5. Immanuel Quickley – Five years, $162.5 million
6. LeBron James – Two years, $101.2 million
7. Nic Claxton – Four years, $97.0 million
8. Patrick Wiliams – Five years, $90.0 million
9. Isaiah Hartenstein – Three years, $87.0 million
10. Malik Monk – Four years, $78.0 million
Patrick Williams signed the third-highest deal among restricted free agents this offseason. If we include deals signed by unrestricted free agents, the forward’s new five-year contract ranks as high as eighth. The total value of his deal is ahead of other marquee signings like Isaiah Hartenstein (three years, $87.0 million), Malik Monk (four years, $78.0 million), and former teammate DeMar DeRozan (three years, $74.0 million).
Now, I know the idea of Williams making more than several of these players sounds ridiculous, especially DeRozan. But let’s remember (1) the age difference and (2) the average annual value. Williams – who is 22 years old and only on his second NBA contract – was always destined to sign a four or five-year deal. Not only is it in his best interest to grab some long-term security, but it’s in the team’s best interest to ensure he can’t walk away any time soon. With that being the case, Williams’ AAV isn’t nearly as high as these other, more proven players.
To be a tad more defensive, if we filter simply for an annual salary, Williams drops down ꦏto signing the 15th-largest contract this offseason among all free agents. Hartenstein, DeRozan, and♎ Monk will all have a bigger effect on the cap sheet, as will players like Tobias Harris, Miles Bridges, Nic Claxton, and Kentavious Caldwell Pope. You can see the full list on Spotrac .
When you think about it that way, the Williams contract becomes considerably less impressive. An $18.0 million a year deal screams decent starter far more than it does borderline All-Star, especially knowing the cap is only trending up with the new TV rights deal looming. Williams is now making roughly as much as players like Harrison Barnes, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Rui Hachimura. That’s not CRAZY.
Now, can you still make the case that the Bulls overpaid, particularly in comparison to this year’s free-agent class? Absolutely. While I might feel fine about this deal moving forward, that doesn’t necessarily mean I think the Bulls won this negotiation. Whether the Bulls want to admit it or not, Williams has been far closer to players like Obi Toppin and Aaron Wiggins than Tyrese Maxey or even Immanuel Quickley (although, I do think that Quickly contract is ugly). We’ve seen nothing that indicates Wiliams is currently worth $32.0 million more than Toppin.
Heck, Isaac Okoro just signed a three-year deal that is worth $52.0 million less than Williams. Another 23-year-old defensive-minded f𒁃orward, throughout his꧒ first four years.
To be sure, I completely understand the concept of paying up for potential. Williams still possesses more of that than Toppin, Wiggins, and Okoro. But is the upcharge for “potential” really $32.0+ million? Was anyone else going to give him that much in the open market?
If the DeMar DeRozan or Nikola Vucevic situation taught us anything, it’s that the Bulls are pretty darn good at bidding against themselves. Even if the Patrick Williams contract ends up working out swimmingly (like the DeRozan one did), this wouldn’t change the fact that the front office failed to leverage the current market. Whether it’s through contract negotiations or the trade market, this front office has to start playing some hardball.
