Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season due to a left wrist dislocation that will require surgery, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan called Williams' perilunate dislocation a "pretty significant wrist injury" during Friday's media availability. There are hopes the 20-year-old could recover in time for the playoffs, according to Wojnarowski.
Williams landed awkwardly on his wrist following a mid-air collision with New York Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson during Thursday's 104-103 defeat in Chicago. Robinson was called for a flagrant foul on the play.
The fourth overall pick in the 2020 draft, Williams was expected to be a significant contributor this season on the heels of a stellar Summer League showing. He started 71 of the team's 72 regular-season contests in 2020-21, averaging 9.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.
Donovan also discussed how the team will address Williams' void in the starting lineup. "I think Derrick (Jones). I think Javonte (Green). Obviously Alex (Caruso), we’ve played smaller with four guards," Donovan told NBC Chicago's K.C. Johnson.
"A lot is going to be teams and matchups. I thought Lonzo (Ball) when we were small did a pretty good (job) on (Julius) Randle, made his post-ups difficult. All those are viable options."
The new-look Bulls have been on a tear through the opening two weeks of the 2021-22 campaign, boasting a 4-1 record. They are tied for first in the Eastern Conference standings ahead of Saturday's visit from the unbeaten Utah Jazz.
