It sounded so simple.
The new Bulls regime and coaching staff would use this season to not only develop this current roster, but evaluate it along the way, making decisions on what pieces were deemed keepers and which were expendable.
Twenty-three games in, however, that’s all but gone off the rails.
With starting center Wendell Carter Jr. (right quadriceps) already on the shelf for at least another few weeks, the team announced on Monday morning that Lauri Markkanen would be joining him, as an MRI showed that the blow he took to the right should in Orlando over the weekend, was in fact a sprained acromioclavicular joint, sidelining him for the next two-to-four weeks.
Billy Donovan’s day wouldn’t get an easier.
Hours before the tip-off with the Wizards, the coach announced that Otto Porter Jr.’s back injury was improving, but there was still no clear timetable for his return, and there was always lingering worries that it could be reoccurring.
But the most concerning news centered around 2018 first-round pick Chandler Hutchison, who will stay with the team but will not play because of personal reasons.
“He and I had a discussion the other day in Orlando and we talked a little bit there, and then we had a chance to talk when we got back here to Chicago,’’ Donovan said of the situation. “I can’t really talk any more about it. The conversations I have had with him have been absolutely terrific. I give him a lot of credit. He’s handled himself like a complete pro. But right now there’s some things he needs to focus on personally and that’s where his attention is at.
“I don’t know how long he’ll be out, I don’t have a timetable for that. But I just wanted people to know, if he’s not out there — he’s probably going to be on our bench. He certainly wants to be part of the group. And while he’s on the bench, I just didn’t want people to say, just why is this guy not playing?’’
Like Carter and Markkanen, Hutchison’s young career has been marred by injuries. As a rookie, he was only able to play 44 games, and last year it was 28. This season was again bumpy for him, as he was sidelined with the coronavirus, worked his way back from that, and now is shut down again, playing just seven games.
“The conversation did take place the second game in Orlando,’’ Donovan said of the situation. “And I wanted to get back and have [Hutchison] sleep on some things and digest some things about the things he expressed to me. And when we got back we had a chance to visit a little bit further and obviously with what he’s dealing with right now, it’s apparent that he’s gonna be out for some time.’’
What’s also apparent? Carter, Markkanen and Hutchison were each once considered key pieces to this rebuild, but now they are starting to enter that injury-prone category. Never a good look for a young player trying to build a reputation in the Association.
“I think that’s very, very fair what you’re saying in terms of looking at someone’s history of being hurt and whether or not he’s injury-prone or those kinds of things,’’ Donovan said, when specifically discussing the danger of Markkanen getting tagged with that injury-prone label. “I think because these guys are physically putting themselves in harm’s way every night, and the level of physicality in these games, all these guys are susceptible to things like that. I get what you’re saying, and I understand what you’re saying. I don’t know if I would personally say he’s just an injury-prone guy.’’
