The Chicago Bulls had a rough season, finishing 39-43 as the 9th seed in the East, and injuries really took a toll. Key players like Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams were sidelined for a good chunk of the season. Now with DeMar DeRozan gone, the Bulls are banking on Williams, their No. 4 pick from 2020, to level up and take on a bigger role.

But it feels like their luck just isn’t flipping. According to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, “He [Patrick Williams] last appeared in a game on Jan. 25 and hasn’t played much five-on-five since.” It’s still up in the air if he’ll even be ready for training camp. Patrick Williams only played 43 games last season before that left foot injury took him out, and he had to get surgery to fix the fracture. Even with all that, the Bulls still dropped $90 million on him, showing they’re all-in on his potential. “His availability is the biggest unknown in the short term. Long-term, the setback forces one to wonder whether Williams will be able to assemble a breakout season given his lengthy layoff,” Mayberry adds.

But man, was that the move? Williams is young and still trying to find his stride, and with DeMar gone, they need someone to step up now. Banking on Williams to fill DeMar’s shoes when it’s clear his development will take time is a gamble, especially fresh off an injury.

To Williams’s credit, at just 23, he’s putting up over 9 points and 4 boards, showing steady growth, and there’s real hope he’ll turn into a solid piece. But on top of needing time to develop, it’s unclear if he’ll even be ready for training camp next week. With the season right around the corner, it just cranks up the tension—the Bulls haven’t made any big moves to beef up the squad, aside from trading for Josh Giddey in exchange for Alex Caruso. But will this young talent be enough to fill up the DeRozan void?

Josh Giddey: the Bulls’ newest young talent

Josh Giddey, 21, already has three years in the NBA, but he is yet to hit peak performance. Giddey isn’t the most dangerous perimeter shooter (he’s sitting at a career 31.0% from three). However, his size and playmaking are promising. At 6’8″ and weighing 210 lbs, he’s got a unique skill set for a point guard.

According to Mayberry of The Athletic, Giddey “has great positional size and is a savvy passer, gritty rebounder and smart cutter.” Mayberry adds that: “If it works, the Bulls will have secured another strong playmaker who can help spark an erratic and occasionally predictable Bulls offense.” Moreover, the 21-year-old told reporters that he loved teamplay and looked forward to contributing to team growth. “The player I am, my job is just to make the game easier for everybody else,” he said. “That’s kind of what I wind up doing. Come in and make sure guys are getting easy looks, guys feel confident on the floor. I feel as a point guard when you can get other people around you going and making them involved in the game, getting them feeling good early, it opens the game up for everybody.”

In this respect, the Bulls can be optimistic about Giddey’s confidence. However, a couple of important questions emerge. Can the fresh talent be a replacement for DeMar DeRozan? If so, how long before Giddey hits All-Star status like DeMar DeRozan?

How will Giddey fare with the Chicago Bulls? Will he hit peak performance in the first season? Share your thoughts in the comments.