(670 The Score) Looking to assess various combinations, the Bulls will start rookie Patrick Williams at small forward against the Thunder in preseason action Wednesday evening.
Otto Porter Jr., who remains, healthy, will come off the bench. The No. 4 overall pick in the NBA Draft in November, Williams will start alongside guard Coby White, guard Zach LaVine, power forward Lauri Markkanen and center Wendell Carter Jr.
“We’re going to have to mix and match here a little bit,” coach Billy Donovan said. “The last week here has been a little bit challenging just because of all the guys that have been out missing practices for a variety of different reasons. So for me, I think I’ve got to look at just different combinations and different groupings of players.
“It’s just more to see like, ‘OK, what does Patrick look like with that first group? Does Otto give us maybe a little bit of a punch off the bench from a scoring standpoint?’ We’re going to have to make some sacrifices all the way around as a team in terms how we need to play and also what guys’ roles may be just because of the uniqueness of what we’re all dealing with at this time.”
The Bulls have been without guard Tomas Satoransky, wing Denzel Valentine, wing Garrett Temple and power forward Thad Young recently, who are all projected to factor into their rotation at some point.
The Bulls will keep “an open mind” about Williams starting in the regular season, Donovan. Williams had 12 points in his preseason debut last Friday and then 13 points Sunday.
“With Thad being out, Sato not being here, Garrett not here, we’re going to have to figure out what does that starting group look like,” Donovan said. “How do we come off the bench? Do we take some starters and move some starters in there with the second unit? Just because we’ve been undermanned, I think you have to look at how do you try to keep balance for 48 minutes knowing that you’re going to have to stagger.”