Chicago Bulls Roster, Injury News 2017: Forward Nikola Mirotić to Forgo Surgery for Facial Fractures, Starts Working Out
The good news is that Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotić has already started working out a couple of weeks after he sustained multiple facial fractures and a concussion following an altercation with teammate Bobby Portis. The bad news is that he still doesn't want to be anywhere near Portis, so one of them will have to leave.
According to the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson, Mirotić had his first supervised workout at the Advocate Center on Wednesday since he was punched in the face by Portis. However, it's interesting to note that he went to the Bulls' training facility after the rest of the team departed for a two-game road trip.
The Montenegrin–Spanish forward has opted not to undergo surgery and he has already cleared the National Basketball Association's (NBA) concussion protocol. However, he still has to work himself back into playing shape and the timeline for his return hasn't changed.
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"With recovery still probably a good six weeks away, just to get back in here and get moving and sweating is an important first step," Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg said, via the Chicago Tribune. "He'll hopefully have good workouts and be able to do a little more every day," he added.
Well, the Bulls will have to address the situation before he's cleared to play.
"That will all be discussed with everybody involved, and the important thing is Niko's back out there getting his workouts in, starting the healing process,'' Hoiberg said when asked if they were going to set a meeting between Mirotić and his teammates, including Portis, via the Chicago Sun-Times. "It sounds like everything's going well right now, everything that he can do, and hopefully he keeps making progress," he continued.
Soon, the Bulls will have to decide whether to keep either Mirotić or Portis, and it's not going to be an easy decision.
