Five years after the 2020 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls are grappling with a decision that could define their franchise’s trajectory. As Tyrese Haliburton leads the Indiana Pacers toward a potential NBA Finals berth in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals, the Bulls’ choice to draft Patrick Williams over the Iowa State star looms large. Reported by Billy Heyen on May 28, 2025, at 5:01 PM GMT+7, some Bulls front office members were “very, very high” on Haliburton, per NBA reporter Nick Friedell, but their voices were ignored. For NBA fans and Bulls Nation, this analysis dives into why Chicago regrets passing on Haliburton, how he became a superstar, and whether the Bulls can recover from this draft misstep. This is a tale of missed opportunities and NBA what-ifs that’s gripping the basketball world!
The 2020 Draft Decision: A Costly Miss
The 2020 NBA Draft, held amidst the uncertainty of a pandemic, was a gamble for every team. The Chicago Bulls, picking fourth overall, faced a pivotal choice to rebuild around Zach LaVine and Coby White. Tyrese Haliburton, a 6’5” point guard from Iowa State, was a known commodity with elite playmaking (6.5 assists per game) and 41.9% three-point shooting in college, per Sports Reference. Some in the Bulls’ front office were enamored with his vision and versatility, as Nick Friedell reported on ESPN, but the team opted for Patrick Williams, a raw 6’7” forward from Florida State with defensive upside but limited offensive polish.
Williams, now 23, has been a solid but unspectacular contributor, averaging 10.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in 2024-25, per NBA.com. His 41.2% three-point shooting shows promise, but his inconsistent role and injury history—missing 39 games since 2020—have stunted his growth, as Bleacher Report notes. Meanwhile, Haliburton, drafted 12th by the Sacramento Kings, has blossomed into a superstar, averaging 20.7 points, 10.4 assists, and 1.6 steals in 2024-25, leading the Pacers to a 48-34 record and a deep playoff run. X posts like @BullsTalk lament, “We could’ve had HALIBURTON running our offense. What were we thinking?”
Haliburton’s Rise: From Draft Steal to Superstar
Haliburton’s journey to stardom wasn’t straightforward. The Kings selected him 12th, but traded him to Indiana in 2022 for Domantas Sabonis, a move now seen as lopsided, per CBS Sports. In Indiana, Haliburton became the franchise’s cornerstone, earning All-NBA honors in 2024 and posting historic triple-double stats, including a 26-point, 10-rebound, 13-assist masterpiece in the 2025 playoffs, per Sporting News. His ability to orchestrate fast-paced offenses (Pacers ranked 4th in pace at 100.2) and hit 40.2% of his threes makes him a perfect modern point guard, as The Athletic’s Sam Amick praises.
The Pacers’ trade for Haliburton, sending Sabonis and others to Sacramento, is now a steal, with Indy reaching the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks in 2025, per NBA.com. Ironically, Obi Toppin, the 8th pick in 2020 by New York, is now Haliburton’s teammate, adding salt to the Bulls’ wound. Haliburton’s leadership and clutch play have him on track for the NBA Finals, making Chicago’s oversight glaring.
The 2020 Draft in Hindsight: A Weak Class, A Missed Gem
The 2020 draft’s top 11 picks highlight why Haliburton’s miss stings. The selections, per ESPN:
Anthony Edwards (MIN) – A star, still alive in the 2025 Western Conference Finals.
James Wiseman (GS) – A bust, averaging 7.1 points in limited roles.
LaMelo Ball (CHA) – A strong talent, but injury-prone (22.6 points, 8.0 assists).
Patrick Williams (CHI) – Solid but underwhelming.
Isaac Okoro (CLE) – Defensive specialist, limited offense (9.4 points).
Onyeka Okongwu (ATL) – Reliable backup big (10.2 points, 6.8 rebounds).
Killian Hayes (DET) – Out of the league after 4.3 assists average.
Obi Toppin (NYK) – Role player, now thriving with Haliburton (11.1 points).
Deni Avdija (WAS) – Breakout in Portland (14.8 points in 2025).
Jalen Smith (PHX) – Journeyman, 6.7 points in Indiana.
Devin Vassell (SAS) – Promising wing, 17.3 points in 2024-25.
Only Edwards and Ball rival Haliburton’s impact, with Wiseman and Hayes as notable flops, per SI.com. Haliburton’s 12th pick was a steal, but the Bulls’ choice of Williams over him—despite internal support—reflects a cautious, defense-first mindset under then-GM Artūras Karnišovas, as Chicago Tribune critiques. X user @NBADraftGuru sums it up: “Bulls wanted a 3-and-D guy but missed a generational playmaker.”
Why the Bulls Regret It
The Bulls’ regret is multifaceted:
Missed Playmaking: Chicago’s offense, ranked 18th in efficiency (112.3), lacks a true floor general. Haliburton’s 10.4 assists would transform LaVine and DeMar DeRozan’s scoring, per ESPN Stats.
Cultural Fit: Haliburton’s high-IQ, team-first style aligns with coach Billy Donovan’s system, unlike Williams’ inconsistent fit, as ClutchPoints notes.
Franchise Impact: With a 41-41 record and first-round playoff exit in 2025, the Bulls are stuck in mediocrity, per NBA.com. Haliburton could have elevated them to contenders, as The Ringer suggests.
Friedell’s revelation that some front office members pushed for Haliburton exposes internal discord, with Karnišovas prioritizing Williams’ two-way potential over a proven creator. The Kings’ blunder in trading Haliburton compounds the Bulls’ error, as Sacramento’s 38-44 record shows, per Yahoo Sports. X posts like @ChiSportsFan vent, “We’re watching Hali ball out while Pat Williams sits on the bench. Painful.”
The Bulls’ Current State: Can They Recover?
The Bulls’ 2024-25 season, finishing 41-41, reflects their ceiling without a star like Haliburton. LaVine’s 27.4 points and DeRozan’s 24.1 keep them afloat, but Coby White’s 4.8 assists can’t orchestrate like Haliburton, per Basketball Reference. Williams remains a trade asset, with his $18 million contract through 2026, but his value pales compared to Haliburton’s All-NBA status, as HoopsHype notes. Chicago’s front office faces pressure to make bold moves, with rumors of targeting Zach LaVine trades or chasing 2025 free agents like Brandon Ingram, per Bleacher Report.
Haliburton’s success in Indiana, just a short drive from Chicago, stings fans at United Center, where attendance dropped 8% in 2025, per Statista. The Pacers’ playoff run, potentially ending in a Finals berth, contrasts with Chicago’s stagnation, fueling calls for a front-office overhaul, as Chicago Sun-Times reports. X user @BullsNation cries, “Fire AK [Karnišovas]! Haliburton was RIGHT THERE!”
Broader NBA Implications
The Bulls’ miss reflects a broader NBA trend: draft decisions shape franchises for decades. Teams like Minnesota (Edwards) and Charlotte (Ball) hit on their picks, while others, like Golden State (Wiseman), falter, per ESPN. Haliburton’s rise underscores the value of high-IQ guards in today’s pace-and-space game, as SI.com argues. The Kings’ trade blunder highlights the risk of undervaluing young stars, a lesson for Chicago as they navigate trades, per The Athletic.
For a Facebook audience, the Bulls’ regret is a relatable tale of “what could have been,” blending nostalgia, frustration, and hope. Hashtags like #BullsDraftFail and #HaliburtonRegret trend on X, amplifying the drama. The saga also questions front-office accountability, as fans demand transparency, per FanSided.
Looking Ahead: A Path Forward?
The Bulls can’t undo 2020, but they can learn. Trading Williams or White for a playmaker, targeting draft prospects like Cooper Flagg in 2025, or signing a veteran like Chris Paul could address their void, per CBS Sports. Karnišovas’ job security hinges on bold moves, as Chicago Tribune warns. Meanwhile, Haliburton’s Finals push with Indiana cements his status as a draft steal, leaving Chicago to ponder what might have been. X user @NBATalk sums it up: “Bulls fans watching Haliburton cook while we’re stuck in the play-in. Ouch.”
The Chicago Bulls’ decision to pass on Tyrese Haliburton for Patrick Williams in the 2020 NBA Draft, reported by Billy Heyen on May 28, 2025, is a regret that haunts the franchise as Haliburton shines in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals. With internal support for Haliburton ignored, Chicago missed a generational talent, leaving fans and analysts to lament a stagnant roster. Can the Bulls recover from this blunder, or will Haliburton’s success forever taunt them?