The Chicago Bulls wrapped up their Las Vegas Summer League on Friday, and the most significant takeaway was the emergence of Patrick Williams as the team’s biggest winner. While Caleb Wilson captured most of the headlines with his flashy play, the struggles of first-round picks Dailyn Swain and Noa Essengue opened a clear bench role for Williams.
Swain’s numbers laid bare his disappointment. He logged 28 minutes per game but produced only 4.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting a paltry 4-for-31 from the field and 0-for-7 from three-point range. The 15th-overall pick appeared lost offensively and, according to the Summer League recap, is unlikely to earn meaningful NBA minutes as a rookie.
Essengue’s situation was equally troubling. After a 29-minute debut against Memphis, his playing time steadily declined. He was benched at halftime in the second game against Utah, and head coach Tiago Splitter later indicated the need for more energy and leadership on the floor. Over his final three outings, Essengue averaged just 13.5 minutes, a reduction that signals the coaching staff’s lack of confidence in his impact.
Williams, meanwhile, benefits from a contract that prevents Chicago from moving him. That restriction makes him the logical bench option over the struggling rookies, as the Bulls cannot trade him and he offers a more reliable presence than Swain or Essengue. The Summer League report highlighted Williams as a “big winner” because his contract locks him in while the other two first-rounders falter.
From a basketball standpoint, Williams fills a niche the Bulls have been missing. He can guard multiple wing positions, provides respectable rim protection for a forward, and finishes in transition, traits that align with Splitter’s emphasis on energy and defensive intensity. With Wilson and fellow rookie Matas Buzelis occupying the primary wing slots, Williams offers a dependable drop-off who can sustain defensive schemes without sacrificing scoring upside.
Looking ahead, the Bulls’ bench composition appears set to revolve around Williams. The Summer League performance suggests he will see a substantial role off the bench once the regular season begins, while Swain and Essengue are unlikely to secure significant minutes given their Vegas showings. As Chicago continues to address forward depth, Williams stands poised to become a regular-season contributor.
