There is certainly no way that the Porter-experiment gets worse in 2020-21, so considering the only way is up, what type of impact can Chicago have with him in the starting lineup? Next season’s expected lineup is White, LaVine, Porter Jr., Lauri Markkanen, and Wendell Carter Jr. unless a trade is made sending Markkanen or Carter Jr. out of town.
In the 29 games, Porter Jr. has played, Chicago has gone 12-17 (41.3 percent) with him in the lineup and averaged 111.1 points per game and 109.1 without counting the Bulls 168-161 4OT win versus Atlanta in 2018-19. In 2019-20, Chicago averaged 106.8 points per game, a significant +4.3 point-difference with Porter Jr. on the court.
Defensively, they’ve allowed 114.3 points per game with Porter Jr. and 112.6 again taking away the 4OT game. The Bulls finished 14th with 109.9 points allowed per game in 2019-20, so is Porter Jr.’s defense really a difference-maker like experts said it was in Washington? Chicago has yet to see that skillset and when they have, it’s resulted in more points allowed than scored.
With new management underway, Arturas Karnisovas will most likely reevaluate Porter Jr. at the 2020-21 trade deadline, taking the best and quickest deal he can afford. After signing Thaddeus Young and Tomas Satoransky, they become the third and fourth-highest paid players on the team, and the need to get rid of Porter Jr.’s contract became more evident.
The NBA season is going to start later than ever in 2020-21, and perhaps a Chrismas start is in order or a shortened season cutting down from 82-to-50 games would make a lot of sense. If NBA contracts are cut due to the losses from COVID-19 and games being hosted without fans, there are potential contracts that will be cut as well, making Porter Jr. more attainable for other suitors and affordable for Chicago.
Until we receive more news on COVID-19 and the impact it’ll have on an NBA return in 2020, you have to assume Porter Jr. will be a Chicago Bull until June of 2021 whether you like it or not.