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The Whiteboard: The Otto Porter era has been good for the Chicago Bulls

By Ti Windisch

CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 13: Otto Porter Jr. #22 of the Chicago Bulls shoots the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 13, 2019 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 13: Otto Porter Jr. #22 of the Chicago Bulls shoots the ball against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 13, 2019 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Otto Porter being dealt to the Chicago Bulls was not a thing that seemed all that important on NBA trade deadline day. The Bulls moved on from Jabari Parker and Bobby Portis, two players Chicago clearly didn’t plan on paying this summer, so it didn’t seem like a bad deal for the Bulls at the time.

Instead, it felt like a gamble, with Chicago rolling the dice on Porter’s big cap hit being better spent on him than on whatever free agents might be convinced to come play for the Bulls. Through a mere six games, that gamble seems like it might be a win for the Bulls.

Chicago is 4-2 in games Porter has played and is riding a three-game winning streak since acquiring him, the longest for the Bulls all season long. The most recent win came with Porter missing all four of his shots before leaving the game with a non-serious leg injury, and even without much help from him, the Bulls were able to beat the Boston Celtics at home.

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In the five games Porter got to play to completion, he’s been terrific. Porter averaged 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in those games, shooting 57.5 percent from the field and 56.0 percent from 3-point territory.

It’s, uh, less than a great look for the Washington Wizards that Porter has looked dramatically better on the freaking Bulls, not exactly a sterling example of NBA basketball themselves this season. He scored less than 13 points per game this season in Washington, even though the Wizards have been without John Wall for most of the year and needed contributors to step up.

Washington’s loss appears to be Chicago’s gain in this case. Porter is 25 years old, and he fits the gap smoothly between the Bulls’ young guards and their baby bigs. The wins he has contributed to already have seemingly fired up his new team, as Zach LaVine displayed a lot of pep in a postgame interview after the Boston win. Good for Bulls fans, who needed something positive to come of this season.

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