Otto Porter Jr. is the unspoken leader of this Bulls team
The Bulls have become a completely different team since the acquisition of Otto Porter Jr. going 7–6 over the past month after the trade deadline; including impressive wins over the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Porter has been able to take some pressure off of LaVine and Markkanen by being able to knock down open 3-pointers at a consistent clip and make plays for others.
Otto has been averaging 18.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game which are excellent numbers for the third option on a team. He is also shooting fantastic from 3-point range at 47.5 percent, along with a 49.7 percent from the field and a +4.2 plus/minus.
Porter also has changed the Bulls’ defense, simply by being a lengthier player who can actually defend adequately at the wing. At 6'8" 198 lbs. with a 7'1" wingspan, he is a flexible player that thrives at SF, but can play the role of a stretch-four if necessary. Otto is currently averaging 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks per game for the Bulls over the 11 games he has played, which is solid defensive playmaking.
However, Porter does tend to get beat on switches sometimes when he doesn’t open up his hips and is sometimes a step too late off of screens. With the many positives attributes he brings to the table, some of his flaws may get overlooked.
As a quiet and humble player, Otto did not come in and try and take over the team by force as he understood his role and value to an incredibly young squad. He made his presence felt in other ways, mostly by showing the right way to approach a practice, how to trust your teammates on D and the benefits of moving the ball around on offense.
Porter won over the respect of his teammates and coaches very quickly by doing other little things such as asking great questions during film sessions and generally checking up on and talking to players in the locker room. When Jim Boylen was asked about Porter he admitted:
“He helps us be a team with his attitude, with his play, with his intelligence, with his versatility.”
-Jim Boylen on Otto Porter Jr.
In Washington, Porter pretty much played in the shadows of John Wall and Bradley Beal. He was drafted 3rd overall and later rewarded with huge contract (as a result of a Brooklyn offer sheet) but did not get a chance to really prove himself in Washington. The fact that Chicago is anywhere but Washington, thus providing Porter with a fresh start, is the primary factor in his and the Bulls recent, inspired play.
Before joining the Bulls in early February, many would say the only things the Bulls had to look forward to were the NBA draft and free agency. Now with Porter in tow, this rebuild has accelerated and it is legitimately exciting to watch Bulls basketball again.
What makes everything seem so surreal is that the new lineup with Porter worked out almost instantaneously. The chemistry, the energy and overall demeanor of this entire Bulls team has changed to the point that you would think they were fighting for a playoff spot.
You have to give Otto Porter a big share of the credit because his play (and role) has sparked a resurgence among LaVine, Markkanen and Lopez, as they are all playing some of the best basketball of their respective careers over this recent stretch.
Otto Porter came in and helped this team in ways no one would have been able to predict and he is now the catalyst and “hidden” leader. The Bulls still have work to do as a team in terms of player development and roster decisions in order to become a force to be reckoned with, but at least you can count on the team to bring an A+ effort every single game.
With 15 games left on the Bulls regular season roster, as long as Otto Porter is playing this season, expect the Bulls to continue developing as a unit, and to continue competing at a high level.
