The Chicago Bulls announced on Saturday evening that big man Joakim Noah will miss the next 4-6 months after suffering a dislocated left shoulder against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday.
Noah, one of the primary catalysts for the Bulls’ return to relevance over the past several years, had taken on a bench role this season prior to the injury. He’s averaging 4.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 21.9 minutes of action this season.
“His recovery time is estimated at four to six months,” a Bulls press release said on Saturday. “The details of the timing, location, and rehabilitation program have not yet been finalized. Noah is expected to have a full recovery.”
The timeline given by Chicago suggests that Noah could come back this season if the team were to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Until then, the expectation here has to be that Taj Gibson will see more action with rookie Bobby Portis finding himself in the rotation on a more consistent basis.