Bulls’ Otto Porter back on shelf with recurring back injury

It started grabbing at Otto Porter Jr. again late in the game against the Trail Blazers.

By the second half Monday against the Knicks, the grabs turned into painful squeezes.

And just like that, the oft-injured forward was back on the shelf.

“It’s been something that’s been bothering and nagging him,’’ coach Billy Donovan said Wednesday. “He felt better going into the last game against New York. And I think toward the second half, he just wasn’t feeling great. So we’re going to try to just help him get corrected and feeling better.

“Obviously, I think he wants to play, but he knows he can’t play to the level he needs to. Right now, we’re going to rest him and let him get some rehab, some treatment and then we’ll see what happens going into Orlando.’’

Considering how long Porter has been dealing with back issues, it would be a surprise to see him even make the weekend trip.

It’s a back-to-back against the Magic, so the best-case scenario would be having him available for one game. At this point, why?

Porter has been a key addition to the veteran bench core, but the last thing Donovan needs is a minor injury becoming a major one. Considering Porter will be a free agent this offseason, he’s likely in that same boat.

Even if he is petitioning to play, Donovan carries enough heft to make sure to protect Porter from himself but at the same time have an open dialogue with him on a day-to-day basis.

“I’m not going to tell a guy, ‘Hey, listen, we’re going to sit you for a week because I think that’s the best thing the medical staff thinks,’ ’’ Donovan said. “He’s got to be part of those conversations. He’s a grown man and has been in the league for a while and knows his body better than anybody else.

“He hasn’t shot the ball particularly well in the [last few games], but we are going to have to take some inventory on him and how he’s feeling before we go in and say, ‘You’re going to sit for the next week or three games or whatever it may be.’ I do agree 100% that he needs some time to get himself right physically. I don’t think there’s any question about that, but he’s also got to be part of that discussion in terms of actually when he feels he’s right.’’

Bench options

If Porter does miss the weekend in Orlando, Donovan has options at that position.

Chandler Hutchison would be the logical choice to continue getting bench minutes at the forward spot, but Donovan has shown that he’s willing to go small at times, which means extended playing time for Denzel Valentine or Garrett Temple.

Both are more suited to a backcourt spot, but they’re also physical enough to play some forward.

Not a second thought

The NBA and the players’ union are closing in on a one-day All-Star Game in Atlanta on March 7, so if Zach LaVine is asked to play in it, he has no concerns with his safety in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I think the NBA knows what they’re doing,’’ LaVine said. “I think they’ll obviously make everything safe. I don’t think they would do the game if it wasn’t safe for the players or the fans, so I mean I’m always up for that.’’