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Chicago Bulls injuries: Chandler Hutchison to miss rest of season

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 29: Chandler Hutchison #15 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during warms ups before the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 29, 2020 in New York City.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. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 29: Chandler Hutchison #15 of the Chicago Bulls looks on during warms ups before the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on February 29, 2020 in New York City.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. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls fans just got some more bad news. Second-year forward Chandler Hutchison will miss the remainder of the 2019-20 season.

The start of Chandler Hutchison’s NBA career hasn’t been as smooth as most would’ve hoped. Last season (his rookie year), he only appeared in 44 games for the Chicago Bulls. This season, a nagging shoulder injury has held him back.

Per the Chicago Bulls, Hutchison will undergo arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday, March 17, to treat his shoulder. He’s projected to be out 12-16 weeks.

This is really disappointing news for Hutchison and the Bulls, but it’s not surprising. Clearly, his shoulder has been bothering him.

Hutch seemed to turn a corner in the second half of this season. During his rookie season and the beginning of the 2019-20 season, he just simply wasn’t aggressive. He didn’t look like he believed in himself or trusted himself to make the right play when the ball was in his hands.

Thankfully, his confidence increased as this season wore on. He started attacking the rack with ferocity, finishing through contact and looking like he finally believed in himself. It was really fun to watch. All of Stacey King’s “Young Pipp” calls started to have some truth behind them.

As Chandler Hutchison heads into year three, there will be a ton of questions about his ability to contribute on an NBA floor. His jumper is shaky and his confidence (despite increasing) is still lower than it should be. The biggest question, though, is whether or not he can stay healthy.

If Hutch can’t keep himself healthy, he won’t get the minutes he needs to improve his on-court skills.

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