Bulls' Nikola Mirotic: Likely out of rotation Friday

Coach Fred Hoiberg hinted that Mirotic would likely remain out of the rotation for Friday's game against the Rockets, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reports. "We'll see how the flow of the game is going," Hoiberg said after the Bulls' practice Thursday, when asked if Mirotic would see the floor Friday.

Analysis:

Mirotic has been a major disappointment throughout the season, and despite more playing time being available following the Feb. 23 trade of Taj Gibson to the Thunder, the third-year big man hasn't risen to the occasion. He was averaging a meager 9.8 points (on 44.4% shooting from the field), 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 three-pointers and 1.5 assists in 24.5 minutes per game over the Bulls' first six contests following the Gibson trade, before Hoiberg elected to drop him from the rotation during Wednesday's loss to the Magic. It doesn't sound like Hoiberg is leaning toward using Mirotic on Friday, so expect to see more of Joffrey Lauvergne as the main backup to starting power forward Bobby Portis. Lauvergne finished with seven points, eight rebounds and four assists across 29 minutes Wednesday.