A shake-up is on the horizon. Following the postseason, teams will reassess their squads in hopes of being competitive in the short and long term. The Chicago Bulls underwent major changes last offseason and even midseason.

The Bulls notably traded Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey and decided against re-signing DeMar DeRozan, instead engaging in a sign-and-trade with the Sacramento Kings. Amid a tumultuous campaign, the Bulls shipped leading scorer Zach LaVine to Sacramento in exchange for three role players and a draft pick that was previously their own.

This offseason’s fireworks aren’t likely to be as combustible. Nonetheless, the NBA is the wild west, and there’s no telling what will occur. If there’s anything we can conclude, it’s that the Bulls will draft a lottery pick, a second-rounder, re-sign Giddey, and add another free agent using their non-tax midlevel exception.

Chicago’s transactions can be anticipated. However, Vice President of Basketball Operations, Artūras Karnišovas, roster construction, and Head Coach Billy Donovan’s rotations are more difficult to project. The impending Nikola Vucevic trade decision ultimately holds the most weight. Will Karnišovas and Co. retain the 34-year-old center? Or engage in trade talks to revamp a subpar frontcourt rotation?

It’s widely expected that the Bulls will take a big, or at least forward, with their first-round pick. And, if Chicago follows through, that player needs to see reps from the get-go—unlike last year’s 11th-overall pick Matas Buzelis, who didn’t earn a solidified rotation spot until mid-January, yet turned out to be one of the NBA’s best rookies.

The Bulls must continue to play Patrick Williams off the bench

Of the Bulls’ veterans who shouldn’t obstruct a first-rounder’s playing time is Patrick Williams. The former fourth-overall pick has finally lost his luster after five seasons in the NBA. In his fifth professional season, Williams averaged a career-low 9.0 points per game, converted merely 39.7 percent of his field goals and 35.3 percent of his three-pointers.

While the allure lingered around Williams for years, we know who he is after 276 appearances. The 6-foot-7 forward is a decent spot-up shooter, a solid athlete, and a capable defender. His athletic gifts and impressive physical profile will always be apparent. Nevertheless, he’s best suited as a sixth, seventh, or even eighth man. And that’s okay.

However, it’s not okay if the Bulls, and namely Karnišovas, feel as if Williams is deserving of a high-profile role in the Bulls’ rotation because of his draft pedigree or lucrative contract. Just because he earns $18 million per season doesn’t equate to a starting role.

Donovan realized, or perhaps accepted, Williams’ struggles a season ago and rightfully sent the 6-foot-7 forward to the bench in late January. Following Williams’ move to the bench, his counting stats steadily decreased, while his shooting percentage increased. He didn’t perform too well in the role. Nevertheless, his net rating mightily increased.

The Bulls are better with Williams coming off the bench, and it’s quite possible the 23-year-old will develop into a quality contributor in his new role. What must not occur is a reinsertion into the starting lineup. Karnišovas recently stated he’s “excited to see how [Williams] responds next season.”

Sure, a bounce-back season from Williams will be encouraging, especially since the Bulls are married to the former fourth-overall pick for four more years. Still, that doesn’t mean Donovan needs to reinsert Williams alongside Buzelis on the wing. Allow for a newcomer, or potentially Julian Phillips or Kevin Huerter, to man the open spot next to Buzelis. Sending Williams back into the starting lineup has disaster potential.