NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bulls finally provided an update on the status of Otto Porter, but it wasn’t the kind we wanted.
Here’s what the Bulls announced Wednesday morning:
OFFICIAL: Otto Porter Jr. underwent a repeat MRI on Tuesday of his left foot which revealed bone bruising not apparent on his original MRI and consistent with his ongoing symptoms. He will continue his current course of treatment and be reassessed in two weeks.
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 20, 2019
While the Bulls never gave us an exact timetable for his return, it’s hard to believe the team thought it would take Porter this long to get back on the floor. On November 6th, Porter left the game against the Atlanta Hawks with what was reported as a left foot strain.
Head coach Jim Boylen shared few status updates on Porter’s rehabilitation process, leaving us hopeful that Porter was making progress. Well, the fact alone that a second MRI took place tells us that Porter’s injury wasn’t improving, and that’s concerning.
“His symptoms have not subsided in the timely manner they thought for this injury it would,” Jim Boylen told K.C. Johnson yesterday at practice. “It’s frustrating for him and frustrating for us.”
Boylen might have known then what we know now.
The Bulls announced he’ll be re-evaluated in two weeks, which means we still have no real estimate for when he might be back on the floor.
What does this mean going forward? A lot more minutes for Chandler Hutchison. The Bulls wing depth remains very limited, and several three-guard lineup combinations will be in our future. Fortunately, the Bulls second unit has shown progress, with a featured lineup of Kris Dunn, Coby White, and Ryan Arcidiacono playing some solid ball. The trio has been on the floor for a combined 150 minutes thus far this season and has managed a +11.1 point differential. Some of this is based on Coby White’s big performances, but still, it could be worse.
These three-guard lineups shouldn’t be the long term answer though, and this is clearly a better team when Porter is healthy. With him out for at least another two weeks, it’s time for some other guys to step up (*cough* Lauri Markkanen *cough* *cough* Zach LaVine *cough*).
