Judging the Bulls' rebuild will take time. And Tuesday's exhibition opener in New Orleans won't offer much evidence for a progress report.
With Zach LaVine likely sidelined until November or early December as he rehabilitates a torn left ACL, the Bulls now will be without Lauri Markkanen as well. Coach Fred Hoiberg said the rookie acquired in the Jimmy Butler trade will miss Tuesday's opener and Wednesday's game in Dallas because of the sore back that has knocked him out of training camp since Friday.
"Lauri is feeling a lot better, but he won't play in these first two exhibition games," Hoiberg said Monday. "He'll do some stuff today on the (practice) floor, but he won't do any contact drills. We feel right now it's best to take a cautious approach. And then we'll re-evaluate him on Thursday to see if he'll be ready for Friday's game."
Markkanen suffered back spasms playing for Finland in the lead-up to this summer's EuroBasket tournament, in which he starred.
"I'm not concerned about it," Hoiberg said. "The fact that he's getting better, and when he went through this with his national team this summer, once he got back on the floor, he played at a very high level."
Quincy Pondexter also won't play Tuesday or Wednesday as he battles a strained left hamstring. That's the same leg on which Pondexter has endured three knee surgeries.
The Bulls acquired Pondexter, a 2018 second-round pick and $2.5 million from the Pelicans last month in a salary dump. Pondexter is attempting a comeback after not playing the last two seasons.
