It’s been easy to forget the Otto Porter Effect.
Then again, since Feb. 8, 2019, it’s been easy to forget that Porter was even on the roster.
The veteran forward has played 25 games since he was acquired from Washington for Bobby Portis and problem child Jabari Parker. Last season’s absence was more tanking than injury, but a fractured foot after just nine games this season put the 6-foot-8, former No. 3 pick on hiatus for 17 weeks.
Even in returning against Dallas on Monday night, Porter was on a minutes restriction.
Some restriction. In his 17-plus minutes of work, Porter shot 7-for-11 from the field, hit 3-for-5 from three-point range, and scored 18 points in the win over the playoff-bound Mavericks.
Impressive?
Considering how poorly the Bulls have played this season, very.
But life without Porter may be even more traumatic than many Bulls fans realize. Since putting on a Bulls uniform, Porter has given his new team an 11-14 record (.440 winning percentage) when he’s played. No biggie, considering that winning percentage would just put the Bulls at the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs these days.
Without Porter, however, the Bulls are 20-44 (.312 winning percentage), which would put them in Knicks territory right now, sitting with the fifth-worst record in the league this season.
That’s why coach Jim Boylen has consistently insisted that this is a “no-excuse business,’’ but at the same time had no problem sprinkling in reminders of a missing Porter every couple of weeks.
“We have expectations, we have standards and you hope to reach those and play within those,’’ Boylen said to reporters on Tuesday, discussing getting healthy bodies back and still making this season matter. “A lot of this is on the character of our group. … Otto comes in and plays as hard as he can in the moments he gets. That’s what this thing has to look like.’’
And it’s not done finding its look, either.
Yes, Boylen finally let out the worst-kept secret of the year — that Kris Dunn and his right MCL injury would miss the rest of the season, but Lauri Markkanen (right pelvis) put in a practice with the Windy City Bulls of the G-League this week, and had no setbacks in the Tuesday workout.
If Markkanen can get through warmups Wednesday night in Minneapolis, he’s a go.
“I’m hoping to play,’’ Markkanen said. “It’s up to Coach if I’m going to play or not. Sitting on the sideline for five weeks, you’re really anxious to get playing.’’
Porter and Wendell Carter Jr. will see their minutes increase, and even with Zach LaVine (quad) out against the Timberwolves, the frontline core at least continues to finally get reunited.
Porter, however, is the key in all of this, and the numbers — small sample size or not — back that up.
What will be interesting to watch is what if the Bulls finish strong, and Porter plays well next season after undoubtedly exercising his $28-million player option. If the Bulls lose out on the summer of 2021 free agency, could they in fact lean on Porter as a consolation prize?
He’ll only be 28 then, so it’s not like he’ll be aged out.
