NBA trade rumors: Bulls’ Patrick Williams not attracting ‘much interest’ from team executives | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

According to NBA Insider, Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams has attracted little interest from opponents Jake Fischer in the Steinline.

Fischer reported that “few rival managers” have “shown much interest” in Williams during the Bulls’ 8-12 start to the season.

Williams signed a five-year, $90 million contract with the Bulls before the season, and according to Fischer, several teams, including the Charlotte Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors, were linked to him last summer prior to his restricted free agency.

As the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline approaches, Bulls executives have been in contact with several teams about potential trades. According to Fischer, they are reportedly open to moving most of their roster, including key players like Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball and Nikola Vučević.

“Most notable, sources say, is that Chicago has expressed a desire to move LaVine, Vučević and Ball, who are commanding a combined salary of nearly $85 million this season,” Fischer wrote. “The fact that they were willing to move DeMar and (Alex) Caruso (this past offseason) means they are willing to move everyone (now).”

The 23-year-old Florida State product was selected fourth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft and earned All-Rookie Second Team honors.

In his fourth season with the Bulls, he averaged 9.9 points per game, 2.3 assists and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 39.4 percent from the three-point line.

Williams played just 43 games for the Bulls last season before undergoing season-ending foot surgery.

He has struggled with lingering issues this season due to the injury and has not played since Nov. 18 against the Detroit Pistons due to inflammation in his surgically repaired foot, head coach Billy Donovan told reporters.

Chicago has an 8-12 record and is 10th in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls have missed the playoffs in each of the past two seasons and six of the past seven.