No matter how good the Chicago Bulls health is the rest of the way, the odds of them sneaking into the playoffs remain exceedingly low. But just because we won’t be watching playoff basketball down the stretch, doesn’t mean we have to watch uncompetitive basketball.
Well … you know what I mean ….
And to that end, there’s some good news to report:
Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter Jr. practiced today.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 18, 2020
Wendell Carter Jr. has been out since the beginning of January with an ankle sprain and Otto Porter Jr. has been out since roughly the beginning of time with a foot sprain and then a bone bruise (I think he set the record for the most MRIs ever). But both were eyeing a return around the All-Star Break, and now it seems like that could be happening.
Carter Jr., in particular, was hoping to get back for the Bulls first game after the break, this Thursday against the Hornets, and if he’s practicing fully today as reported, that’s still a possibility.
Meanwhile, Porter Jr. had some positive things to say, but doesn’t quite go all the way:
Otto Porter Jr. said he felt good while practicing fully. Said he’ll play when he’s 100 percent.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 18, 2020
You can read that a few ways, but it seems to me like he’s saying that while he feels good, he isn’t quite 100 percent healthy just yet and won’t play until he is. Given where we are in the season, and the likelihood that he – and his $28.4M player option – will be around next year, too, that’s a perfectly fine approach.
Either way, this is good news and I’m glad to see these guys ramping back up.