Otto Porter, who has been sidelined for nearly four months, said today that he’ll return to the Bulls‘ active roster for Monday night’s game against Dallas, according to Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago (Twitter link).
Porter suffered a foot injury early in the 2019/20 campaign, dealing with a bone bruise, bone edema, and a small fracture in that troublesome left foot. He last suited up for Chicago on November 6, having appeared in the Bulls’ first nine games of the season.
Acquired at last year’s trade deadline for the expiring contracts of Jabari Parker and Bobby Portis, Porter has played just 24 total games since arriving in Chicago, averaging 15.1 PPG and 4.8 RPG with a .463/.458/.846 shooting line. When he’s in the lineup, he has been a reliable three-and-D frontcourt option for the club, but health issues have limited his playing time both this season and last season.
Even if Porter finishes stays healthy and plays well over the next month and a half, he’s unlikely to opt for free agency by turning down his $28.5MM player option for 2020/21 this summer. As such, he’ll likely return to the Bulls next season, barring a trade.
The Bulls are gradually getting healthier after being hit hard by the injury bug this season. Wendell Carter played on Saturday for the first time since early January, while Lauri Markkanen, who last played on January 22, appears to be nearing a return as well.
Whoopty do…
Exactly
GarPax lost trade to Grundfelds Wizards and still have a job. Failing up should be Bulls new motto for front office leaders.
When does the next tear-down and rebuild cycle begin? The current one obviously is headed nowhere.
With Comrade Reinsdorf’s Communist basketball regime, mediocrity is rewarded, because those horrible executives are in “the club.” The rest of us suffer.
So he’s not a departure guaranteed anymore, which many posted in healthier days.
Porter can blame his “troublesome left foot” for staying in Chicago and Maybe Boylan. *Well here we are foot*
Stats do not back him at this point but he will probably not be worse than he was. A coaching change to follow a determined FO change, and players back from injury, could make the Bulls a surprise next year.
Uh, they said that this season.
Good news for Chicago! He’s been great for them when healthy.
Uh oh, look out we’re pickin up steam here pickin up steam!
Bulls should hope he is very healthy and super great rest of the season. Be a lot easier to trade. Injuried players don’t have a whole lot of value.
Yes he’s a massive over pay.
Yay.