Between Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević, the Chicago Bulls are awash with potential trade chips this season to add to their draft stock.
But the front office may be turning its attention toward dealing younger players, according to a report by NBA insider Jake Fischer, who said the Bulls are “open-minded” to trading Patrick Williams.
“His team is more willing than ever to discuss him in a trade,” Fischer said.
This might come as a surprise after the Bulls re-signed the fifth-year forward in July to a five-year, $90 million extension. But the first priority of that deal was retaining Williams as an asset — either to develop or to utilize in a trade to bolster the roster for the long term.
Williams, 23, averaged 9.9 points and five rebounds in his first 15 games this season and was showing marginal signs of much-needed improvement in offensive aggressiveness before he was sidelined with a sore left foot. His 2023-24 season ended in January and he had surgery on the same foot a month later, and he didn’t play any five-on-five basketball over the summer.
Williams will be sidelined at least through this week, but he downplayed the severity of the injury before Friday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, saying his pain was “not even close” to what he experienced before surgery earlier this year.
“I’m not really concerned,” Williams said. “Nobody seems to be worried. This is kind of a thing that happens. The first year after surgery is always tough.”
Sky submit protected list for expansion draft
WNBA teams submitted lists Monday night of the six players they wish to protect in the Dec. 6 expansion draft.
The Golden State Valkyries — the newest addition to a league that will welcome two more teams (Toronto and Portland) in 2026 — can select one unprotected player from each of the 12 existing teams.
Teams are not required to make their protected lists public, but the Sky’s likeliest choices are fairly obvious: rookie standouts Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso; veteran anchors Elizabeth Williams, Michaela Onyenwere and Rachel Banham; and 2024 leading scorer Chennedy Carter, currently a restricted free agent.
Lonzo Ball joins the Bulls on the road
Ball is not expected to return to the court this week, but coach Billy Donovan said the point guard took a step forward in his recovery from a sprained right wrist.
Ball’s recovery from the sprain — which occurred in an Oct. 28 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies — has been slower than expected, although Donovan has been quick to emphasize that Ball has not had any setbacks. Ball experienced pain and discomfort while shooting and dribbling last week. Although he has not returned to contact drills, Donovan said Ball felt more comfortable shooting the ball Monday.
Ball traveled with the Bulls for back-to-back road games Tuesday in Washington and Wednesday in Orlando, and Donovan said Ball might return to contact drills with the team this week.
Number of the week: 46.3
Vučević hasn’t cooled off from a white-hot shooting streak to start the season, hitting 46.3% behind the 3-point arc through the first 18 games. He never has made two 3-pointers or more per game without averaging at least 5.8 attempts. This season he’s averaging 2.1 makes behind the arc in only 4.4 attempts per game.
Despite this efficient shooting, Vučević is only third on the Bulls in 3-point volume behind LaVine (3.4 makes per game) and Coby White (3.2).
The next question for Vučević: Can he keep up this efficiency as other teams adapt?
Opponents visibly sagged off of Vučević in the opening weeks as he was coming off a career-worst season in long-range shooting. Maintaining precision will become tougher as defenders begin to apply more pressure at the perimeter.
Overseas report: Cardoso and Carter stand out in China
The Women’s Chinese Basketball Association season is underway — and Cardoso and Carter have made immediate impacts.
Cardoso scored 23 points on 11-for-11 shooting for the Shanghai Sharks on Friday and added eight rebounds and two blocks in a 108-65 win over Hebei. The 6-foot-7 center has averaged more than 20 points in her first two WCBA outings.
Carter also has been dominant on offense, racking up 42 points in a win for Wuhan Shenfan on Monday.
For both players, game outcomes aren’t the key focus of the international season. Cardoso aims to use the time to improve her defensive switching, rim protection and finishing with her back to the basket. Carter is hoping to build up her stock on the market as she prepares for restricted free-agency negotiations with the Sky in the new year.
Week ahead: Bulls
- Wednesday: at Orlando Magic, 6 p.m. (CHSN)
- Friday: vs. Boston Celtics (NBA Cup), 7 p.m. (CHSN)
- Monday: vs. Brooklyn Nets, 7 p.m. (CHSN+)
What we’re reading this morning
- Column: In the NBA Cup era, Bulls and other teams are encouraged to run up the score — like it or not
- NBA urges players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following high-profile burglaries
- ‘I let it go’: Teresa Weatherspoon — blindsided by Sky firing — embraces future with new 3-on-3 league
- Who will the Sky pick in the 2025 draft? 8 players to watch, including Olivia Miles, Azzi Fudd and Aneesah Morrow.
- Column: Bulls preach patience as they adjust to new style — but are fans already losing interest?
- ‘I’m being true to myself.’ How Zach LaVine strives for success through selflessness with the Bulls.
- Angel Reese will play with former Sky star Kahleah Copper in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league
- Column: Bulls legend Bob Love overcame all obstacles to help make Chicago a pro basketball town
- Sky want off the coaching carousel — and they believe Tyler Marsh brings a vision for long-term success
Quotable
“If they talkin’ ‘bout playin’ ball, they can take it up with Jordan.” — Kendrick Lamar shouting out the 1990s Bulls on his latest album, “GNX”
