(670 The Score) The Bulls got a pair of players back at practice Wednesday evening and are in line to have that reinforcement available when they host the 76ers on Thursday evening.
Big man Lauri Markkanen and forward Otto Porter Jr. each practiced in full after staying in Chicago during the All-Star break to mend their respective injuries and get acclimated with contact again. Out since Feb. 5 with a sprained right shoulder, Markkanen proclaimed himself “good to go” multiple times in taking questions from the media Wednesday.
“I’m planning to play,” Markkanen said of Thursday. “That’s up to Coach.”
Technically, it’s up to the Bulls’ medical staff in consultation with coach Billy Donovan, but you get the point. Markkanen is ready to get back on the floor, where he’s averaging 19.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 14 games this season.
“The team is playing well,” Markkanen said. “I’m excited to get back and I’m just trying to bring my effort and energy and just be aggressive and help the team whatever way I can – if it’s off the floor or on the floor. So I’m excited to get back.”
As Markkanen’s recovery took longer than the initial timetable of two to four weeks, Donovan has referenced the Bulls wanting to be cognizant of the possibility of Markkanen’s shoulder getting reinjured. While understanding of that, Markkanen was clear that won’t be a part of his mindset.
“When I step on the court, I’m not thinking about what are the chances of reinjuring it?” Markkanen said. “Like I said, I’m good to go. As long as the medical staff approves me, that’s it. I’m not thinking about that at all.”
Porter has been out since Feb. 1 with what he called lower back pain caused by spasms. While he’s had various injuries before, this type of pain was new to him.
“This is something I’ve never experienced before,” Porter said. “As you know your back is kind of the middle of everything, you know being able to move and walk and stuff, so it was definitely a weird pain that I never felt before. Like I said, I figured the problem out and we really strengthened up my core, my legs and stuff, to get back to being able to run and jump, so my body is feeling really well right now, responded really well to conditioning, to heavy loads and stuff. So my body is feeling good.’’
Porter wasn’t quite as strong as Markkanen in his confidence in playing Thursday. He responded “we’ll see” when asked that question, but both he and Donovan expressed optimism. The Bulls will see how both Markkanen and Porter respond Thursday morning.
“I feel good physically,” Porter said. “I’ve prepared my body over the last couple weeks to really get (work) in. Making sure I’m able to run and jump on the court, and on the court I’m able to do everything.’’
Porter is averaging 11.6 points and 6.3 rebounds in 16 games. While he was out, external speculation emerged that he might be seeking a buyout from the Bulls with an eye on joining a better team. Porter downplayed that notion, saying he’s “absolutely” focused on the Bulls. He's making about $28.5 million in the final season of his contract.
“I have no idea, to be honest with you, I have no idea (where that came from),” Porter said of the buyout rumors. “Like I said, I’ve just been in the gym every day, trying to get my body back and whatever is going on out there, I have no idea about. My agent would probably tell me if something was going on, but he hasn’t said anything.’’
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.