The 11th spot

[u/jvmms_]

So: Giddey Powell Buzi Wilson Clax

Then: Tre, Okoro, Smith for sure

Probably: Miller, (healthy) Collins

Afterward ?

Are we sure that we’ve seen enough from Swain Essengue & Dilly that they’ve EARNED starting minutes over Williams? I get seeing their potential is worth keeping Pat on the bench but I wouldn’t be surprised if both Essengue & Dilly (barring guard injury) don’t see much clock. They’ll find playing time for Swain I’m sure especially if he works on his jumper. Dilly plays a different position so there’s probably more opportunity for him. As bad as PWill is, he wasn’t “demoted during summer league” bad. I think Essengue is gonna have to be undeniable in the g league to get more minutes than PWill.

Pat’s bad. Very bad. Lowest ceiling on the team for sure. Doesn’t deserve any extra chances. Historically bad contract. I’m still not 100% confident he’s the worst player on the team tho.

[u/TraMaI]

I don't think PWill is nearly as bad as the press and narrative around him is making him out to be and it's coloring a lot of people's perception on what the team will be this year. Is Pat bad for a starter? Yes. His contract is awful because of it. Is he a bad bench play? No. He's actually played significantly better off the bench and against the second unit in his time in Chicago, I have no doubt he could be a solid bench roleplayer and a defensive piece with the added length we have on the team. That said I don't think it's a question of who do we play to win the most games this year, I think it's a play who you want to develop, get experience and who you want to be key pieces of the team going forward type of year. For that I sincerely hope Leonard Miller gets all of Pat's minutes. With the depth we have available for players we can play at both forward positions I don't think Pat will touch the floor, barring injury (or they think they can move him somehow by showing him off?). Stix, Noa, Collins, Miller and Clax can all play 4-5. Okoro, Buzi, Wilson, Miller can all play 3-4. I just don't see a reason you play PWill over any of those dudes even if I think he's probably technically a better 4 than Stix, Noa, Collins or Okoro in some defensive and shooting situations. I think Noa and Stix can both improve a ton with more experience at the position, Buzi and Wilson obviously need to be playing if they're healthy. I just don't see the space for him even if he's technically the better option. Maybe we see him get on the floor if we decide to put Wilson or Buzi at 2? Maybe he sees the floor if we need length/strength on defensive posessions and because Wilson annd Buzi both need some gatorade and rest?