The Chicago Bulls are a mystery whose intentions this offseason are still unclear.
Are they going to finally embrace some kind of rebuild? Tear it down completely? Run it back with the same team (probably)? Tinker around the edges?
One of the toughest decisions is restricted free agent Patrick Williams, a player who has yet to live up to his draft status but may have too much talent to give away. The Bulls went down this road with Lauri Markkanen with disastrous results, but they also can’t commit too much to a player who hasn’t proven he can stay healthy and contribute consistently.
Even if the Bulls want to keep Williams, they may have competition for his services. 
Chicago Bulls free agency: Competing for Patrick Williams
Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic (Subscription) reported that the OKC Thunder may have interest in Williams.
The Thunder will have enough cap space to throw around, so this could put the Bulls into an uncomfortable position.
The Bulls don’t want to get into a full-scale bidding war, and if that’s what happens, may turn to a sign-and-trade rather than lose Williams for nothing.
My first thought is that if the Thunder, a team that has done well identifying and developing young talent, really wants Williams then maybe it’s a sign the Bulls should keep him.
If it came down to a sign-and-trade, the Thunder have plenty of players and draft assets to offer up, though sign-and-trades rarely favor the team that is trading the player away.
Here are two possible trades the Thunder could offer up for Patrick Williams that would likely represent best-case scenarios.
Chicago Bulls trade Patrick Williams to the OKC Thunder for a 2025 1st-round pick
The Thunder will more or less control the 2025 NBA Draft, which is heralded as being much deeper than this year.
OKC owns five first-round picks in 2025 and clearly isn’t going to add five more young players to a roster already loaded with young talent. They could send the Bulls one of them in exchange for Williams. The 2020 NBA Draft hasn’t shaped up to be great so far and the 4th pick Williams may be equivalent to a later pick in next year’s draft.
If OKC really wants Williams, the Bulls would likely take a first-round pick in exchange, but OKC could also try to unload a player that they have no interest in signing long term.
Chicago Bulls trade Patrick Williams to the OKC Thunder for Josh Giddey
On paper, Giddey looks like an overpay for Williams, as he has already been a key player on a successful team and shown he can consistently contribute to winning.
But his role diminished as the playoffs went on and by the last series against Dallas, he was the odd man out.
Giddey is extension eligible and OKC may decide not to make that investment, as he is a questionable long-term fit with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who likes to play on the ball, and the Thunder aren’t going to be able to pay everyone.
Would they rather pay Williams than Giddey? That’s debatable, but the Thunder could use more depth at forward and already have other guards in SGA, Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace and Aaron Wiggins.
The Bulls need a point guard who is a table setter and could put Giddey into a more suitable role, especially if Lonzo Ball is not returning right away.
It’s an interesting idea and one that could play out if the rumor is true and the Thunder do have some interest in Patrick Williams.
