Two days after Coby White entered the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols, Javonte Green will do the same.
According to NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson, Green has been placed in protocols ahead of tomorrow night’s game against the Brooklyn Nets. Unless he tests negative twice before then, the expectation should be that Green will miss the next 10 days. The Bulls will play the Brooklyn Nets (Dec. 4th), Denver Nuggets (Dec. 6th), Cleveland Cavaliers (Dec. 8th), and Miami Heat (Dec. 11) over that span.
Green is now the third player this season to enter protocols, joining White and Nikola Vucevic.
Bulls list Javonte Green out vs. Nets on injury report. Health and safety protocols. Bulls are testing daily following Coby White's positive test.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 3, 2021
Green took over as the team’s starting power forward once Patrick Williams went down with a wrist injury back in October. He remained in the Bulls lineup until Vucevic’s second game in isolation. Head coach Billy Donovan opted for a different look with backup big man Tony Bradley taking over center duties, adding more polished POA defense with Alex Caruso taking Green’s spot among the starters. However, once Vucevic did rejoin the starters on November 24th, so did Green, who has continued to supply solid defense, strong rebounding, and overall high-energy play.
Green may not be the most impactful Bull, but his athleticism in transition and focus on doing the little things have been much-needed in a rotation full of All-Star-caliber talent. There is no question the absence of him and White is a significant blow to the Bulls’ depth.
I’d have to imagine Caruso will now reclaim his spot in the starting five while players like Troy Brown Jr. – who already entered the rotation in the first game without White – and Alize Johnson clock more minutes with the second unit. The role of rookie Ayo Dosunmu will also become that much more important, who has already shown glimpses of providing the kind of two-way energy that made Green such a vital bench piece.
One last option could be to give two-way frontcourt player Tyler Cook – who has recently been balling out in the G-League – his first real taste of NBA action this season. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind seeing it.
Get well soon, Javonte!
Ps: The latest injury report also shares that Alex Caruso is questionable with a hamstring strain. If the Bulls end up without him tomorrow against the first-place Nets on the road, we could be looking at quite the challenging game.
Alex Caruso is questionable with a right hamstring strain. https://t.co/G8L2vBnlyk
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 3, 2021