PORTIS SET FOR RETURN
Suspension over, forward will come off bench vs. Raptors
Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic continued his work on a bike and in a swimming pool Monday.
But Mirotic, who had won a starting job in training camp, has yet to put up a shot and is still weeks away from returning to practice after being punched in the face by teammate Bobby Portis in the wake of a practice altercation nearly three weeks ago.
Portis, meanwhile, has served his season- opening eight- game suspension and is set to return when the Bulls visit the Raptors on Tuesday.
Fair? That’s not what was being judged Monday.
‘‘ Obviously, that’s a difficult situation,’’ veteran big man Robin Lopez said when he was asked whether Portis’ punishment fit his crime. ‘‘ That’s where [ the suspension is] handed down . . . so we’ll roll with it, deal with it, try and welcome him back to the team.’’
That’s where the Bulls are with the drama these days— just trying to roll with it.
It has been a waiting game and will remain that way until Mirotic and his representatives have their wishes granted or have a change of heart.
Twice in the last week, the SunTimes reported Mirotic’s stance is that he or Portis has to go. He has let the front office know that he no longer thinks he can be in the same locker room as Portis.
With Portis now able to play in games, it will be interesting to see whether Mirotic’s position softens, stays the way it is or becomes even more entrenched.
Very few at the Advocate Center were going to try to predict that.
‘‘ The biggest thing in my conversations with Niko right now is to continue to make progress and continue to get better,’’ coach Fred Hoiberg said.
And what does Hoiberg want to see from Portis?
‘‘ Bobby has been practicing with us, obviously, for the last couple of weeks,’’ Hoiberg said. ‘‘ He’s been the same player as far as his energy is concerned. Every time he steps on the floor and we need a jolt of energy, he can provide that for us. He needs to continue to do those little things that have made him successful when he’s been on the floor his first couple of years in the league, and that’s to play with great energy, run the floor for us, rebound at a high level and follow the game plan defensively.
‘‘ I know his teammates are excited to have him back. I know the coaches are excited to have him back.’’
Lopez, however, admitted there is some anxiety about Portis getting back out there, especially considering he plays the game aggressively.
Will that aggressiveness somehow be tempered because of the altercation with Mirotic? The Bulls don’t think so, but there’s also a bit of wait- and- see about it.
‘‘ I’m definitely anxious to see what he has to bring,’’ Lopez said. ‘‘ I know he’s been putting in a lot of work; he put in a lot of work this offseason. I know there’s been some interesting situations going on, but I think we’re all excited to have him back on the court.
‘‘ I haven’t noticed [ less aggressiveness] in practice. He’s still been competitive, and that’s what you need to be as an NBA player. You need to be competitive.’’
Hoiberg indicated he wasn’t sure how much playing time Portis would get, saying only that he would come off the bench.
NOTE: Guard David Nwaba might miss up to a month with an ankle injury suffered Saturday and will remain in a walking boot for the time being.
“We’ll roll with it, deal with it, try and welcome him back to the team.’’ — Robin Lopez, on teammate Bobby Portis