Patrick Williams finishes preseason strong, will likely come off the bench

It was an up-and-down preseason for promising forward Patrick Williams. He had some great games and some disappointing ones, but overall he showed that he has the potential to be a major contributor to the team. At this point, Williams will likely come off the bench as a reserve player. Despite his inconsistencies during the preseason, head coach Billy Donovan still sees him as a crucial part of the roster.

Strong finish

Donovan announced that sophomore Ayo Dosunmu would be the team's full-time starting point guard, replacing the injured Lonzo Ball. Donovan, though, remained mum about his plans for the power forward slot.

Williams made a compelling case during the team's final preseason match against the Milwaukee Bucks, piling up 22 points, five rebounds, five assists, and a steal in 32 minutes of action. It wasn't just the number of points Williams scored but also how he scored them. He showed no hesitation in attacking the basket, using his quickness and athleticism to get past defenders and finish at the rim.

In case you forgot, Pat has some bounce.

@PatrickLW4 | @NBCSChicago pic.twitter.com/rQrzL7RVni
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) October 12, 2022

Despite this strong performance, it still seems likely that Williams will come off the bench for now. He is a talented player with great potential but has struggled with consistency throughout his young career. Despite the terrific performance, Williams kept things in perspective, saying he just did what was expected of him on the floor.

"If I play well, if I didn't play well, it's one game. You can't look too much into it. I would say the same if we lost or if I played bad," said Williams, the Bulls' fourth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Green most likely to start

Before the preseason, Williams was a shoo-in for the starting power forward slot. All that changed when journeyman forward Javonte Green began playing out of his mind, even pulling out some MJ-type dunks.

Confirming: Woo took off from FAR!!@2Xtremebounce | #BullsNation pic.twitter.com/iZXIQhndbF
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) October 10, 2022

The 29-year-old absolutely crushed it in the preseason, averaging 15 points on over 70% shooting. He also drained 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, showcasing a skill that can open things up for the Bulls' perimeter stars — DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.

If Javonte Green can do this consistently, from both corners, he could be one of the Bulls’ best two-way options this season. pic.twitter.com/BivyoSjzpJ
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) October 5, 2022

Donovan asserted that whoever he'll run with the starters when they open the season against the Miami Heat will be the one he feels most comfortable with. It's not set in stone, either.

"We've got a pretty good feel for our guys. I think putting guys out there in combinations is important. They're all going to need to learn to play with each other and sacrifice for one another. But I think we have time to do that," said Donovan.

"It's not to sit there and say on opening night, whoever is starting out there that that's going to stay the same the whole way. When you have a team, sometimes you adjust and make changes and do things you feel will help the team. And sometimes it's trial and error."