CHICAGO _ Ready or not, here comes Lauri Markkanen.
In the first year of a full rebuild, the Bulls projected the first-round pick to play an important role. But nobody expected the Finnish forward to start Thursday's season opener in Toronto, as coach Fred Hoiberg announced Wednesday, a day after the altercation in practice that left Nikola Mirotic injured and Bobby Portis suspended.
"He's really the only guy that's gotten reps at (power forward) consistently," Hoiberg said. "For him, great opportunity."
Markkanen averaged 11.7 points and five rebounds while shooting 38.9 percent from 3-point range in the final three exhibitions after missing the first three with a sore back. Is he ready?
"I think he's ready to go 1-on-5 and play by himself," the always colorful Robin Lopez said. "But as I've said, if he bites off more than he can chew, it's on us to help him. That culture that we've had so far, it's really been genuine. However many guys are on the floor, however many are on the bench, we're always going to have each other's backs."
Hoiberg said starting small forward Paul Zipser also will play some power forward minutes in smaller lineups. And Quincy Pondexter, who missed all of training camp with a hamstring injury after missing the last two seasons because of multiple knee surgeries, also may play some power forward.
The Bulls are expected to activate guards Ryan Arcidiacono and Antonio Blakeney, who are on two-way contracts. That would give them 11 players for the opener. The clock for NBA service for players on two-way deals _ who are allowed 45 days _ doesn't start until Oct. 23.
Hoiberg has previously said Arcidiacono will be the primary backup point guard behind Jerian Grant until Kris Dunn returns from his finger injury.
