How Otto Porter Jr. is fitting in with the Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls continue to play out this long and arduous season. With the addition of Otto Porter Jr., excitement is back in the Windy City.
Trudging their way through a rough season full of drama, the Chicago Bulls have seemingly turned the corner on their marathon of an NBA season. With Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen playing at a high level since February, their play has coincided with a major transaction, the acquisition of forward Otto Porter Jr.
Acquired by the Bulls in exchange for Bobby Portis and Jabari Parker, the 6’8″ Georgetown product has sparked a turnaround of sorts in Chicago. Since his arrival, the Bulls have gone from one of the worst offensive NBA teams to one of the best during his brief stint, including scoring a league-high 168 points in a quadruple-overtime thriller against the Atlanta Hawks.
Wit a 12-42 record at the time of the trade, the Chicago Bulls have experienced a rebirth of sorts with Porter. In the 12 games since he landed in the Windy City, the Bulls have a 7-5 record and have increased their scoring from 102.1 points per game to 117.7 per game. They’re 7-3 when he plays and his presence has greatly impacted the Bulls’ offensive flow as well as their defensive identity.
Simply put, the Bulls are a better team with Porter and are no longer handcuffed and distracted by two high-usage backup power forwards playing in contract years in Parker and Portis.
Experiencing a rebirth in Chicago
In his 41 games with the Washington Wizards this season, Otto Porter was struggling through a down year. It may be that he wasn’t be utilized correctly, or the constant drama surrounding John Wall cast a general malaise over the roster. Whatever the reason, his trade to the Chicago Bulls has brought a breath of fresh air, both for Porter and his new squad.
With the Wizards, he averaged 12.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game on 45.7 percent shooting — decent numbers, but not what you’d expect from someone with an average salary of $26 million per year.
In 10 games with the Chicago Bulls, the 6’8″ forward has flourished, pumping in 18.0 points per game on 47.9 percent shooting from the field and an astounding 49.1 percent shooting from long range.
He’s been the playmaking wing the Bulls have needed all season and has been a huge upgrade from the Justin Holiday era.
Porter’s presence has made others better
In his second season from Arizona, Lauri Markkanen was averaging a respectable 17.9 points and 8.1 rebounds a night before the Porter trade. On their own, these numbers were enough to excite Bulls fans. However, since Porter’s debut with the Bulls, Markkanen’s stats have jumped to 22.9 points and 12.5 rebounds per game.
What stands out for the seven-foot Finnish big man is his offensive rating, which has gone from 102.0 to 116.1. For reference, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors has an offensive rating of 118.5 for the season.
Porter’s presence has allowed Markkanen the freedom to shoot comfortably and gives him space to operate in the post.
Lauri Markkanen has been great, but Zach LaVine has been incredible
Markkanen has been very good since Porter’s arrival, but Zach LaVine has been even better. Red-hot offensively, LaVine has looked like the franchise’s go-to scorer with the ability to dominate the game offensively for stretches of every game. When the game is on the line, chances are it’s going to be the nearly 24-year-old taking the shot.
In 47 games before the trade, LaVine averaged 22.9 points and 4.2 assists per game on 45.5 percent shooting, including 34.5 percent from 3-point range. In the 12-game stretch following the trade, LaVine has produced 27.0 points and 5.5 assists a night, shooting 51.3 percent overall and 45.5 percent from deep.
LaVine’s offensive game has been explosive, scoring 40-plus points twice during the 12-game stretch and 39 points on Wednesday, including the game-winning layup against the Philadelphia 76ers.
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With Porter in tow, LaVine has become more of a playmaking guard while developing deeper chemistry with Markkanen. The results thus far have been outstanding.
Don’t worry about the tank, the Chicago Bulls are improving daily
At some point, the franchise was going to have to start turning a page. After all, championships are won on the court, not at the NBA Draft Lottery. The acquisition of Porter has propelled the team forward and the spirited play of the new “Big 3” has excited a fanbase demanding a winning product.
The biggest impact Porter has had on the team is the bottom line, they’ve won seven of 10 games he’s played in. They move the ball more efficiently and play at a quicker pace. The Bulls have shot the ball better since the trade (47.3 percent to 44.7 percent) and are averaging nearly three assists more per game (24.5 to 21.6).
There may be fans pining for Zion Williamson, and with the league’s fourth-worst record, it still may happen via the lottery. Still, with only 19 wins on the season, the team (and its fans) should feel relatively secure in that Chicago should finish with one of the five worst records in the NBA.
For now, Chicago Bulls fans should be excited about the team’s performance on the court. After all, winning is the ultimate goal. With Otto Porter Jr., the vibe at the United Center is changing and the future is looking brighter.