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With suspension in place, is declining Bobby Portis’ team option next for Chicago Bulls?

By Michael Whitlow

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 16: Bobby Portis #5 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics during the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 16, 2017 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 16: Bobby Portis #5 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics during the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 16, 2017 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Chicago Bulls suspended Bobby Portis for eight games after his punch that connected with Nikola Mirotic’s face gave him a concussion and multiple broken bones in his face. Portis has a team option for next season, but will the Bulls even pick it up now?

John Paxson announced that Bobby Portis would be suspended for the first eight games of the 2017-18 season for the Chicago Bulls after he threw a punch at Nikola Mirotic that resulted in Mirotic taking a trip to the hospital.

Mirotic is slated to miss at least the next 4-6 weeks for the Bulls with a concussion and multiple broken bones in his face, while Portis won’t be eligible to play until Nov. 7.

According to Vincent Goodwill of NBC Sports Chicago, this incident had been brewing for a few years now and it finally boiled over on Tuesday during practice. Plus, all it took was just one punch for Portis to put Mirotic in the hospital. That’s not something that’s going to be taken lightly even after the suspension ends for Portis.

The Bulls have an outlet within in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement that could free them from Portis’ contract after his violent act towards Mirotic, but they may wait until Halloween to decide the fate of Portis in Chicago.

Why? Because the Bulls have until Oct. 31 to pick up Portis’ fourth-year team option in his contract.

Portis also loses over $10,000 per game he’s suspended as a result of the incident.

I touched on this subject after the chaos had been reported and everyone had time to soak everything in on Tuesday, but I mentioned that there’s a chance that the Bulls could look to waive Portis. Trading him probably could be some sort of option, too.

The thing I personally keep coming back to with all of this is: how are these going to be able to function in the same locker room, hotels, training rooms, arenas, etc.?

It’s not like they scrapped and it was broken up as a little preseason scuffle. Portis put Mirotic in the hospital. His face is broken and likely needs surgery. That’s a huge deal and eight games seems awfully nice for Portis with what he did to Mirotic.

If the Bulls decide that waiving Portis isn’t the best option, there’s another option and that’s declining his team option for the 2018-19 season. Things will surely be awkward with he and Mirotic this season when the latter returns, but it frees the Bulls up next summer and gets Portis a fresh start to his NBA career.

Next: Portis suspended eight games for punch

For a team that’s been preaching about how great their culture has been after the Jimmy Butler trade, they have a weird way of showing it.

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