At times, NBA fans can have unrealistic expectations about lottery picks. We don’t blame them. Fans of rebuilding teams are beleaguered. Often, they’ll hope that a top pick can turn their fortunes around. It doesn’t always work that way.
Sometimes, lottery picks simply end up being good players. Any given draft only has a handful of franchise-changing stars. Some don’t even boast that many. So, nabbing an elite 3-and-D wing with the fourth pick shouldn’t be seen as a disappointment. Yet, for plenty of fans, it will be.
That’s exactly what the Chicago Bulls did when they selected Patrick Williams with the fourth overall pick in the 2020 draft. He’s not going to be their franchise player, but he’s solid.
Unfortunately, poor health has also held Williams back. Should the Sacramento Kings trade for him anyway?
NBA Trade Proposal — Sacramento Kings Land Patrick Williams
Chicago Bulls Receive: F Trey Lyles, 2026 First-Round Pick (SAC)
Sacramento Kings Receive: F Patrick Williams
On the other hand, some fanbases know exactly how fickle the draft can be. They’ve watched their team whiff time and time again. For a long time, that was the case for the Kings.
Sure, they hit on Demarcus Cousins. During his prime, he was one of the most dominant big men in the NBA. Cousins was huge and physically imposing, but he was also skilled. Yet, somehow, he never led the Kings to the playoffs. Partly, that was because they kept selecting duds in the lottery.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings Updates
Not anymore. The Kings hit big on De’Aaron Fox. Since then, they’ve been making trades to put a good team around him. Now, the Kings are a playoff team.
With that said, they’ll be looking to take a step forward in 2023-24. Could Williams help them take it?
Why The Sacramento Kings Do The Deal
Let’s look at this Kings roster. What do they need? The Kings are built around a dynamic playmaking big man in Domantas Sabonis. With that said, he struggles on the defensive end of the floor. So, the Kings ought to surround him with players who thrive in that area. If they can space the floor, that’s a bonus.
To some extent, they’ve already done that. Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray are both appropriate wings to pair with Sabonis. Yet, the Kings could use one more.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings Updates
If they had a platoon of 3-and-D wings, they could ensure that Sabonis’s defensive responsibilities were consistently minimized. That’s the idea here. Williams is a strong 3-and-D wing. In all likelihood, he’d join Murray in the starting lineup, leaving Barnes as an overqualified reserve.
With their new depth, the Kings should be able to win a playoff series or two. Where does this deal leave the Bulls?
Why The Chicago Bulls Do The Deal
For some Bulls fans, this won’t make sense. The team is rebuilding. Why would they part with a young player? Williams is good. Shouldn’t he be part of the future?
Perhaps. On the other hand, Williams also looks like a role player. A rebuilding team typically needs assets above role players.
A 3-and-D wing has limited use for a team that isn’t pairing him with star players. Here, we’re assuming that Chicago would be moving on from Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and/or Nikola Vucevic as well.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Patrick Williams, Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings Updates
So, they’re collecting an asset for Williams. It’s hard to say where the Kings will be by 2026, but an unprotected first is worth acquiring either way. Just remember – it may land in the lottery, but that doesn’t mean that the Bulls will draft a superstar.
