Tag: Patrick Williams

2020-21 NBA Season Awards: Predicting All-Rookie teams, snubs

We made our picks for the NBA All-Rookie Teams while also projecting which players will be snubbed this season.

With the NBA regular season behind us, the conversation in the basketball world has shifted toward the playoffs following an exciting weekend of action.

The discussion surrounding several end-of-season awards races also has picked up.

Several categories, including Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, appear to be anything but locked up. Also included in that debate: the All-Rookie teams.

The rookie class put forth a strong showing this year and likely exceeded expectations. The performances have given the awards voters something to think about and the final tallies should be rather intriguing.

To make sense of it all, Rookie Wire predicted how the All-Rookie first and second teams will play out. We also included players likely to be snubbed from the voting results.

For more awards predictions, check out the official picks by USA TODAY

Note: There are no position restrictions when selecting All-Rookie teams

2020-21 NBA Season Awards: Predicting All-Rookie teams, snubs

We made our picks for the NBA All-Rookie Teams while also projecting which players will be snubbed this season.

With the NBA regular season behind us, the conversation in the basketball world has shifted toward the playoffs following an exciting weekend of action.

The discussion surrounding several end-of-season awards races also has picked up.

Several categories, including Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, appear to be anything but locked up. Also included in that debate: the All-Rookie teams.

The rookie class put forth a strong showing this year and likely exceeded expectations. The performances have given the awards voters something to think about and the final tallies should be rather intriguing.

To make sense of it all, Rookie Wire predicted how the All-Rookie first and second teams will play out. We also included players likely to be snubbed from the voting results.

For more awards predictions, check out the official picks by USA TODAY

Note: There are no position restrictions when selecting All-Rookie teams

Rookie of the Year Race: Our final rankings of the 2020-21 season

After an incredibly strange draft cycle, the new class of rookies has now completed their first regular season in the NBA.

After an incredibly strange draft cycle, the new class of rookies has now completed their first regular season in the NBA.

Despite the unusual offseason and then compacted schedule of their debut campaigns, there are several young players and fresh faces who have made their presence known all season long.

To celebrate that, every month, we released our updated rankings for the Rookie of the Year race. To see the changes from April, you can read the previous version here.

Like our weekly MVP rankings, every member of our team voted on their personal Top 10 rankings for Rookie of the Year. We averaged out the results to get a cumulative ranking from the HoopsHype staff.

All relevant statistics are pulled from Basketball-Reference, RealGM or NBA.com unless noted otherwise.

Bulls’ Zach LaVine invited Patrick Williams, Coby White for offseason workouts

The NBA All-Star wants to link up with Patrick Williams and Coby White in the gym over the upcoming offseason.

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Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine on Monday said that he has extended invitations to teammates Patrick Williams and Coby White to join him for workouts over the offseason.

With the regular season now over for several teams, players and coaches are starting to look ahead to the offseason and develop workout plans. The upcoming summer figures to be especially important for rookies after enduring a shortened offseason period heading into this year.

The 2020-21 season proved to be unlike any other in NBA history, with the league and teams experiencing challenging hurdles due to the coronavirus pandemic. Certainly, players will take some time off and unwind before getting back into the gym.

Once that time comes, LaVine wants to link up with his teammates.

I’ve already given them the invitation. I want to work out with them and we’ll go through some things and get after it in the offseason. I think that’s good bonding and team exercise for us especially in the offseason. You’re away from your guys and everybody needs time away but once you start ramping back up, these will be the dudes you’ll be in battle with. I want to help them just like other players helped me.

Williams turned in a strong rookie season with the Bulls, averaging 9.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 71 games. He proved to be a capable player on both ends of the floor, and was often tasked with guarding the best players on opposing teams.

The experience of playing as a rookie will help him entering the offseason. He now has a certain idea on the areas of his game in which can be improved upon during his summer workouts.

I think this offseason is going to be for me, personally. Now that I kinda know what to expect in the NBA, the things to work on are getting the ball coming off handoffs, ball screens and just being comfortable making those reads. This was my first season so everything was pretty much new. Now, I kinda have the gist of what the game is about and how we play here. Just being able to have that in my mind going into the summer is going to be huge for me.

Of course, having the ability to train with an All-Star will certainly bode well for Williams and White. LaVine has emerged as one of the leaders on the Bulls and will be able to offer those two players some strong advice and mentorship in the coming weeks.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Bulls’ Patrick Williams unconcerned with NBA All-Rookie accolades

The fourth overall pick wasn’t all that concerned regarding his standing among his rookie peers.

Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams has emerged as one of the top rookies to this point of the season, but the fourth overall pick isn’t all that concerned with his standing among his peers.

Williams is averaging 9.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 50 games with the Bulls. He is converting on 48% of his shot attempts from the field, including 38.7% from 3-point range, and has become a key player for the Bulls this season.

On Sunday, Williams was asked about potentially being named to the NBA All-Rookie First or Second Team and the 19-year-old brushed it off, according to Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago.

The statement made by Williams certainly shows that the rookie is putting team success ahead of his own personal accomplishments. With the Bulls in a fight to make the playoffs, Williams knows that is the main objective and any personal accolades are not secondary to that goal.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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2020 ACC Tournament Completion: Duke topples top-seeded Florida State

The Blue Devils will have a chance to defend their ACC Tournament championship.

This is part of a series in which we are simulating the remainder of the canceled 2020 ACC Tournament using the sports simulation tool WhatIfSports.com. For more information about the simulation, check out the introduction here. For tournament progress to this point, refer to the bracket at the bottom of the post.

In a rematch of the 2019 ACC Tournament championship game, Duke and Florida State sought a chance to play for the 2020 title. Since these teams had the best overall records in the ACC during the season, this semifinal could have been the de facto title game. Regardless, the Blue Devils were not about to let an insignificant thing like seeds dictate their fate. As such, they knocked off the top-seeded Seminoles, 79-67.

Duke didn’t trail until there were four minutes left in the first half. Florida State expanded its lead to eight before the Blue Devils scored seven unanswered points to cut it to one at halftime. The teams traded leads for much of the second half and got the game to a 61-all tie before the Seminoles went on a scoring drought that lasted five-and-a-half minutes. That allowed the Blue Devils to go on a 12-0 run and not look back.

Tre Jones did a lot for the Blue Devils with 15 points and game highs of nine assists and three steals. Cassius Stanley also scored 15, doing so on 6-of-11 shooting from the field. Matthew Hurt added 13, and Vernon Carey achieved a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Devin Vassell and Trent Forrest scored 13 apiece to lead the Seminoles. Patrick Williams scored 11 off the bench, and M.J. Walker added 10. Shooting 39.4 percent from the floor as a team played a key role in the loss.

Rookie of the Year Race: Can LaMelo Ball win after injury?

Despite preseason expectations, basketball fans have seen surprisingly good campaigns from several rookies around the league in 2020-21.

Despite middling preseason expectations, basketball fans have seen some surprisingly good campaigns from several rookies around the league in 2020-21.

Even the most casual observer will know LaMelo Ball has had an excellent year. But there are many others who have played very well while on the floor as well. As such, this will be an exciting race for the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year.

Like our weekly MVP rankings, every member of our team voted on their personal Top 10 rankings for Rookie of the Year. We averaged out the results to get a cumulative ranking from the HoopsHype staff.

Every month, we will release our updated rankings for the Rookie of the Year race.

All relevant statistics are accurate as of April 8, 2021 and are pulled from Basketball-Reference, RealGM or NBA.com unless noted otherwise.

Bulls’ Patrick Williams was paid by Nikola Vucevic to wear the No. 9

The Bulls rookie received an undisclosed amount of money after giving Vucevic his jersey number last week.

When the Chicago Bulls acquired All-Star Nikola Vucevic last week at the trade deadline, Patrick Williams agreed to change his jersey number to accommodate his new teammate.

Vucevic wore No. 9 throughout his nine seasons with the Orlando Magic, but that number was taken by the rookie. Williams offered to give up the number to Vucevic as he made the switch over to No. 44 following the trade on Thursday.

While Williams was generous enough to give up the number for free, Vucevic returned the favor and gave him an undisclosed amount of money for his troubles.

“Vucevic has worn No. 9, it’s really important to him,” Bulls assistant equipment manager Steve Pankow said. “He offered to pay Patrick Williams an undisclosed amount of money for the No. 9. … Patrick Williams gladly agreed to do it.”

The addition of Vucevic figures to help the Bulls compete for a playoff berth this season. He was certainly welcomed with open arms after Williams agreed to give him his jersey number, and Vucevic kindly made it worth his while.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Bulls’ Patrick Williams will change jersey number to accommodate Vucevic

Williams has yet to take the floor with Vucevic, but the rookie has already dished out his first assist to his new teammate.

Chicago Bulls rookie Patrick Williams has not yet taken the floor with center Nikola Vucevic, but the rookie already dished his first assist to his new teammate.

Of course, the Bulls acquired the All-Star and Al-Farouq Aminu on Thursday from the Orlando Magic in exchange for Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr. and two first-round draft picks. The trade capped a busy day in which the Bulls also added Troy Brown and Daniel Theis.

With Vucevic arriving in Chicago, the 7-footer was forced to choose a new jersey number. He wore No. 9 during his nine seasons in Orlando, but that number was taken by Williams. However, the fourth overall pick opted to change it to accommodate Vucevic’s arrival.

Williams will now wear No. 44, according to the team.

https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1375465941207777280?s=20

The addition of Vucevic figures to help the Bulls compete for a playoff berth this season. With Vucevic in the picture, it’s unclear how Williams’ role will change, but the rookie wanted to make sure he welcomed him to the team with open arms by giving up his jersey number.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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NBA trade deadline: Projected rotation for Bulls with Nikola Vucevic

The Chicago Bulls made three moves on the day of the 2021 NBA trade deadline, ultimately landing Nikola Vucevic as well as Daniel Theis.

The Chicago Bulls made three moves on the day of the 2021 NBA trade deadline, ultimately landing Nikola Vucevic as well as Daniel Theis.

With their deadline acquisitions, Chicago’s front office has seemingly pushed its chips into the center of the table. The Bulls are prepared to make a run towards the postseason in the Eastern Conference and their new-and-improved roster is now more intimidating today than it was yesterday.

Earlier today, we wrote about why Chicago’s offense is going to be a lot better with Zach LaVine playing alongside Vucevic. But they have also improved their frontcourt depth by adding Theis, a versatile big man who they landed from the Boston Celtics.

The Bulls in totality have moved on from Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., Daniel Gafford, Chandler Hutchinson and Luke Kornet after all of their moves.

In return, in addition to Vucevic and Theis, they have brought back veteran Al-Farouq Aminu from the Orlando Magic and 21-year-old Troy Brown from the Washington Wizards.

So to help you visualize what this team looks like, below, we have broken down the new group for the Bulls as they prepare to make a playoff push.

The league is moving more and more towards positionless basketball. Note that we define “guards” as the playmakers and primary initiators, “wings” as the versatile athletes who can typically play somewhere between two through four and “bigs” as the main frontcourt threat.