Bulls forward Chandler Hutchison still is surrounded by health questions

Bulls coach Jim Boylen has shown he isn’t opposed to keeping former first-round draft picks out of the rotation as opening night draws closer.

Ask wing Denzel Valentine, who was the 14th pick of the 2016 draft and finds himself out of the 10-man rotation.

So what does Boylen have planned for forward Chandler Hutchison, the 22nd pick of the 2018 draft? Well, nothing as long as Hutchison remains sidelined with a hamstring injury suffered late in voluntary workouts.

‘‘No, I don’t [have a timetable],’’ Boylen said Saturday when asked about Hutchison’s return. ‘‘I do think that he is getting there. We’ve been really encouraged the last five days of where he’s gotten to. [Hamstring injuries are] just tricky.’’

Finding minutes for Hutchison when he is ready to play also might be tricky. Boylen tipped his hand on his 10-man rotation in the Bulls’ preseason finale Thursday against the Hawks, using a second unit of Kris Dunn, Thaddeus Young, Coby White, Luke Kornet and Ryan Arcidiacono.

If the Bulls try to get eight to 10 minutes out of Hutchison when he’s healthy, Arcidiacono likely would be the candidate to lose playing time.

But that’s still an ‘‘if.’’ Hutchison played in only 44 games last season because of injuries, averaging 5.2 points and 20.3 minutes. He is a defensive-minded wing player, but the Bulls hope his offense will develop down the road.

First, however, Hutchison has to show he can be counted on to play. Until then it will be a waiting game, with Hutchison having a lot to prove.

Had to ask

General manager Gar Forman and vice president of basketball operations John Paxson preached accountability for the front office this season. So Boylen was asked whether he was under any pressure to win a specific number of games.

‘‘Nope,’’ Boylen said. ‘‘Nobody’s going to put more pressure on themselves than me. We’re going to play good basketball. And nothing’s changed. Represent the city in the way I think it should be represented. Play hard, compete, care. If we don’t do that or we have trouble doing that, we’ll figure it out coaching.’’

Visiting hours

Former Bulls guard Ben Gordon was at practice Saturday, but an even bigger headliner has been watching the team work since Thursday.

Former Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich, for whom Boylen served as an assistant, has been in town and still is playing the role of mentor.

‘‘He’s been a big part of my career, a guy I learned a ton from,’’ Boylen said. ‘‘He’s going to spend these five, six days with our staff, be kind of a mentor to all of us, and it’s really a good thing for us. Thankful we were able to bring him in.’’’

Cut time

The Bulls’ roster stands at 16 after they waived guards Milton Doyle and Justin Simon and forward Simisola Shittu after practice.