Tyrese Haliburton torched the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday after ex-staffers admitted they begged former GM Arturas Karnisovas to draft him over Patrick Williams in the 2023 NBA Draft.
What happened?
On draft night in 2023, Chicago’s front office ignored pleas to take Tyrese Haliburton with the seventh overall pick. Instead, they chose Patrick Williams, a forward from Florida State. Karnisovas reportedly dismissed Haliburton as “not a serious prospect,” per ESPN’s Jamal Collier.
Haliburton went to Indiana at No. 7. Williams stayed in Chicago. Three years later, the gap in outcomes yawns wide.
Why it matters for Tyrese Haliburton
By 2025, Haliburton had become the engine that drove the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals. Meanwhile, Williams posted career lows: 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 37.2% shooting last season.
One ex-staffer told ESPN the Bulls “way over-indexed on Pat’s potential.” They clung to the idea Williams could be “the next Kawhi Leonard” for years, even after his play proved otherwise.
Karnisovas and GM Marc Eversley were fired in April 2026, three years after the pick that still stings.
What comes next?
The Pacers are built around Haliburton’s elite playmaking and shooting. His 2025 Finals run cemented his status as one of the league’s brightest young guards.
Chicago, meanwhile, is in full reset mode under new president Bryson Graham. The Williams pick now reads like a cautionary tale in talent evaluation.
And the Bulls’ 2023 draft board? It’s a wound that won’t close.