CHICAGO -- Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams is suffering from a left ankle injury that could make him miss the beginning of the season.
This is disappointing news for the Eastern Conference team that had been making major offseason moves to get into the playoffs.
Williams will miss 4 to 6 weeks due to the injury sustained Sept. 15, during an optional personal workout. Chicago will open the season against Detroit on October 20.
Williams, who was drafted from Florida State as the No. 4th overall pick.
Coby White, the guard, is expected to return fully in November following surgery in June on his left shoulder. Training camp begins Tuesday and White will be participating in non-contact activities. White had 15.1 points and 4.8 assists during his second NBA season.
The Bulls were 11th in Eastern Conference, finishing at 31-41. This was two games behind Charlotte who won the final tournament play-in slot. They also missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. In separate deals, they acquired DeMar DeRozan, a four-time All Star, and Lonzo Ball as guards.
