Here are my notes, including strengths, weaknesses or question marks, and potential fit with the Bulls should they take him at 18.
Strengths
Pick-and-roll maestro
Crafty pick-and-roll ball handler with incredible vision and touch as a playmaker
Incredibly mature understanding of the game/angles/positioning
Creative live dribble passer
Manipulates the game with his eyes
Sets up screen rolls well, patient, probe dribble, puts guys in jail
Good floater/mid range pull up game
Shooting versatility
Good step-back 3, can create and get his own shots off-the-bounce
Can operate off-ball/playing next to another lead guard with spot-up shooting ability (51.6 percent)
Has shown ability to be a threat off-ball as a movement shooter, coming off dribble-handoffs or pindowns (53 percent coming off screens)
Tools
Measured one of the longest wingspans and vertical leaps at the combine
Plays slowly and deliberately but has bounce and explosion
Uses change of pace, IQ more than burst but has the latter in his back pocket
Long arms, active hands allow him to be a disruptive defender when he’s fully engaged
Understands angles and positioning to be an effective team defender
Question marks and weaknesses
On-ball defense
Not very quick, doesn’t move hips well
Not a great chase defender — gets stuck on screens a bit
Length can make up for it at times but does get beaten off the dribble
Has size to bother smaller guys but not the speed. Not big enough to defend bigger wings. Will likely be hidden on weaker guard and asked to be a help defender. Nothing necessarily wrong with that, just low upside.
Role and potential fit with Bulls
I really like Jalen Williams. One of the biggest combine risers, he went from the mid-second round range to potentially a late lottery pick.
He has an incredible blend of smarts, passing and shooting. It’s easy to imagine him running second units early in his career the way he manipulates the pick-and-roll, but he could also be effective playing alongside DeMar DeRozan and/or Zach LaVine with his ability to float along the perimeter and knock down open threes, as well as beat hard closeouts off the dribble.
You can never have enough shooting and playmaking on your roster. Although Williams is a bit older and not the power forward-sized utility player the Bulls need, he has a ton of upside to lead an offense. He would be one of my favorite options for the Bulls at 18 because of how he adds reliable decision-making, passing and shooting now, while also giving you long-term upside as a primary playmaker down the line.
