Following the fifth and final preseason game of the 2023 offseason, the Bulls’ head coach Billy Donovan, spoke on fourth-year forward Patrick Williams and his final act of the summer. Box score observers may argue this was his worst outing of the preseason slate, while many will debate it was his best via the eye test. Williams finished with 10 points on 3-for-12 from the field, including 0-for-7 from three-point territory. He also had four turnovers and only one assist in 31 minutes of action. The silver lining? He grabbed five rebounds, doubled his free-throw attempts from the previous four games, and was noticeably playing in attack mode for much of the game. How did his coach see the performance, and how will it ripple effect into next week’s season opener on October 25th?
Attack Mode From The Opening Tip-Off
Word must have gotten back to Patrick Williams that his lack of aggression and noticeable shortage of effort might cost him some playing time this season because the Bulls’ fifth and final preseason outing featured a different player. Two nights prior, he was yanked earlier than initially scheduled because of rather discouraging signs from such a young player in a pivotal season of his career.
In the first five minutes of the game Thursday night, Williams hammered home a dunk for Chicago’s first two points and, soon after, took advantage of Rudy Gobert on the perimeter for a tough layup. This came after several swing passes around the starting unit, a group gaining comfortability as the preseason rolled on. Without Zach LaVine, Ayo Dosunmu drew the starting nod, a job he’s stepped into many times through his two-year career, having started 58% of the games he’s appeared in.
Fitting Into Starting Five
Donovan has echoed to incoming free agents and existing roster pieces alike that Chicago needs defensive presence and more effort on the intangibles. The effort outside of scoring the ball and defending at a high level has been a constant question mark with the 23-year-old from Florida State, but the best stretches across his career have come when the rebounding numbers are up, and the free-throw attempts are steady.
Reflecting on Thursday’s outing, his head coach was impressed and pleased with the performance overall. While the stat sheet may not have been the most efficient, the between-the-lines additives to the starting unit were there. Hustling after rebounds, running in transition, making quick decisions offensively, and committing to aggression toward the rim.
There will be a microscope on Patrick Williams this season from Chicago and the entire league. Headed to free agency this summer, much remains desired before resigning the young forward. The former top-five selection has underwhelmed to this point in his career, and although there have been plenty of flashes of potential, this year, he’ll need to put the pieces together to earn his next NBA contract.
If the decision had to be made now, would you resign Patrick Williams, and how lucrative a deal would you hand the 23-year-old career 9.7 points per game wingman?
