Bulls, Patrick Williams poised to continue partnership

Bulls, Patrick Williams poised to continue partnership originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Presented by Nationwide Insurance Agent Jeff Vukovich

Following Wednesday’s first round of the NBA Draft, Chicago Bulls executive vice president Artūras Karnišovas said he’d wait until free agency plays out to declare the franchise’s identity.

But make no mistake: It’s trending younger.

On the heels of Karnišovas drafting 19-year-old Matas Buzelis that night, which came mere days after trading veteran Alex Caruso for 21-year-old Josh Giddey, a source confirmed that the Bulls are confident in re-signing fifth-year forward Patrick Williams when free agency opens on Sunday evening.

The Athletic reported that Williams intends to sign a five-year, $90 million deal. The verbal agreement will occur on Sunday, but Williams can’t officially sign until the league moratorium ends on July 6.

This salary would make sense given the difference between what the Bulls offered and what Williams and his representative sought before last season began in rookie extension talks.

Before last season, Williams turned down what sources at the time indicated was a four-year, roughly $64 million offer, though it’s unknown if that represented a final offer or part of ongoing negotiations. Sources at that time indicated that Williams’ side sought a deal in the vicinity of De’Andre Hunter’s four-year, $90 million deal but might’ve accepted $20 million annually.

This is why all signs pointed for months to Williams returning following a largely seamless negotiation. And with the salary cap set to spike with the new TV rights deal, Williams’ annual salary won’t be much more than the midlevel exception by this deal’s end. It would represent 12.76 percent of next season’s projected $141 million salary cap.

After all, Williams is poised to sign for $18 million annually following a season in which surgery cut short his campaign for the second time in four years. Williams, who will turn 23 in August and represents Karnišovas’ first personnel move as the fourth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, averaged 10 points on 39.9 percent 3-point shooting…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/bulls-patrick-williams-poised-continue-051047084.html

Author : NBC Sports Chicago

Publish date : 2024-06-30 05:24:08

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