Bulls vet Otto Porter is still sidelined with no timetable for a return

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Bulls acquired forward Otto Porter from the Wizards last season as the trade deadline was expiring, and he made an immediate impact in his debut with the team, scoring 18 in a road victory against the Nets on Feb. 8.

In a 10-game span, the Bulls actually went 7-3, and Porter’s experience on both ends of the floor was a major factor.

So a bone bruise in Porter’s left foot — and no timetable for his return — has the organization rightfully concerned.

And it’s not because the Bulls only got nine very average games from him this season before he was shelved or because the organization is paying the 26-year-old

$27.2 million this season.

It’s because they have staggered out of the gate and need him.

“We miss his calm veteran demeanor,’’ coach Jim Boylen said Monday. “I said this last year and this year, too: He settles us down a bit; maybe at times we need that. He makes timely shots. He’s one of our better shooters. And he has positional size, which is a huge part of that big wing position. We miss those things.’’

The Bulls are missing a lot of things. Porter at least seemed to supply some of them.

The latest on the foot, however, didn’t sound promising for a quick return. Porter has a two-week window of rehab that ends Tuesday, and he is scheduled to be re-evaluated, with a new timetable hopefully provided.

“It takes time,’’ Porter said after the shootaround. “Every day, it gets a little better. Baby steps. Still getting better, baby steps, though.

“You can reaggravate it, absolutely. And that’s what we’re trying to monitor to make sure that those days that I do activities, the next day it’s not over-aggravated or swells back up. We’re definitely watching it closely, though.’’

Porter admitted to having several setbacks early on. From a rehab standpoint, he’s only set-shooting and doing work on the elliptical machine.

“I have no idea about coming back sooner or later,’’ Porter said. “The new MRI exam I’m supposed to be taking is just to see how far along I’ve come. It will eliminate any other things that might’ve happened as far as tissue and stuff like that.’’

Until he gets that thumbs-up, however, he’s doing what he can as a player/assistant coach from the bench and in the locker room.

“It’s definitely tough watching the guys go through [this start],’’ Porter said. “I just try to remain positive. I still try to be a leader to them in the locker room, what I see out there when I’m watching, what we can do better. I’m always going to be voicing my opinion on what we should do or just adjustments out there on the court. At halftime, talk about adjustments we can make and still be a leader to the young guys.’’

This and that

Porter isn’t the only Bull being re-evaluated this week. Chandler Hutchison missed a second straight game on this trip, and his bruised right shoulder will be looked at again in Chicago. He was starting in Porter’s spot.

† Who has been the most valuable Bull this season? According to player-efficiency rating, it has been second-year center Wendell Carter Jr. He led the team with a 17.92 PER, followed by Zach LaVine at 17.60.

Lauri Markkanen was at 11.60, and Kris Dunn was at 12.37. Jimmy Butler, whom LaVine, Dunn and Markkanen were essentially traded for, was at 23.78.