Chicago Bulls Roster
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Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen played his best game of the season in a win over Dallas. Markkanen scored 29 points along with 10 rebounds, three assists, and two treys in 33 minutes. The 23-year-old missed two weeks because of health and safety protocols- but the team has ramped up his playing time, as he's been on the court for 33+ minutes in both games since returning. Markkanen gets a Monday matchup with the Rockets but then doesn't play until Friday, so fantasy managers will have to plan accordingly. He should be in position for a good game against Houston, as they're two of the fastest-paced teams in the league.
Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine dropped 35 points with eight triples, seven rebounds, six assists, and a steal in an overtime loss to the Thunder. LaVine did have six turnovers, but he has now scored 30-plus points in each of his last four games, including at least eight treys in back-to-back contests. The 25-year-old is a top-15 fantasy player right now with no signs of that slowing down, as the Bulls play the third-fastest pace in the NBA and need every bit of his scoring at 4-8 through 12 games. LaVine will next play on Sunday against a tough defensive team in the Mavericks, though his fantasy managers shouldn't be afraid of matchups right now.
Chicago Bulls small/power forward Otto Porter (back) has been given the green light to suit up for Friday's game versus the Thunder after having missed one contest due to a back ailment. Porter's return coincides with Lauri Markkanen also re-entering the mix following having cleared the league's health and safety protocols, which is likely to knock Porter back into a role off the bench. While the veteran showed bursts of upside among the starting five, he has scored in double figures in all four games that he has come off the bench to begin the year, giving him continued value in mid-sized or larger season-long formats.
Chicago Bulls power forward Lauri Markkanenis progressing toward a return to action for Friday's game versus the Thunder, per head coach Billy Donovan. Markkanen has missed each of the team's previous seven contests under the league's COVID-19 protocols, which may mean that he could see his minutes limited when he does make his return. With Markkanen back in the fold, Otto Porter (back) would likely shift back to the second unit, while Thaddeus Young would be zapped of nearly all his fantasy intrigue. Having showcased some strong long-range marksmanship to begin the year (47.8 percent from three), Markkanen should be picked up in all season-long formats ahead of Friday's contest if he was dropped.
Chicago Bulls forward Otto Porter (back) is hopefully going to be ready for Friday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to head coach Billy Donovan. He played just six minutes during last Friday's game before exiting with back spasms. Porter has not been able to suit up since then, but it sounds like the team is hopeful he'll return here. However, Porter's value is fairly limited with Lauri Markkanen back in the mix.