Chicago Bulls: Patrick Williams could return for preseason finale
Ahead of the third of four preseason games for second-year head coach Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls on the evening of Oct. 10, there is an optimistic outlook for one of the team’s recovering players. Second-year forward Patrick Williams suffered a lower-body injury last month and has yet to make his preseason debut with the Bulls up to this point.
But it might not be all that long until Williams makes his debut in game action for Donovan and the Bulls this season. A post on the Twitter timeline of Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago on Oct. 10 indicated that the Bulls could get Williams back for the preseason finale next week.
The preseason finale for the Bulls comes on Oct. 15 at home at the United Center against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Chicago Bulls could reportedly get Patrick Williams back for the preseason finale
Billy Donovan said Bulls want to get Patrick Williams some work with player dev staff on Monday, then will evaluate status for practice Wednesday/Thursday and possibly preseason finale on Friday. Nothing definitive yet — Donovan did add that was an optimistic projection.
— Rob Schaefer (@rob_schaef) October 10, 2021
The Bulls reportedly want to get Williams to work with the player development staff early this coming week. If the Bulls can get a positive evaluation with Williams in the next few days, then the possibility opens up that they could have him in the mix for the preseason finale heading into next weekend.
It would be big for the Bulls to at least get one preseason appearance with Williams to get him integrated with this new core in the starting unit. Since it is likely that the Bulls will run with Williams in the starting five this season, it could be impactful to get one preseason game with him in the lineup ahead of the Oct. 20 regular season opener.
Although the Bulls won’t have Williams back in the mix for the next preseason game, against the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road on Oct. 10, this is great news to hear this type of progression in his recovery.
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It does appear that the Bulls are very likely going to at least have Williams back in the rotation ahead of the regular season opener. The initial fear was that Williams was going to be missing for at least the first week or so of the regular season slate.