This is not a punchline: Bulls pick up Bobby Portis' option

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What happens when you punch a teammate and send him to the hospital?

Beyond the eight-game suspension Bobby Portis received, apparently it's getting your option renewed.

Portis, Cameron Payne and Jerian Grant had their fourth-year contract options picked up by the Bulls. The team also picked up third-year options on Kris Dunn and Denzel Valentine.

There are multiple ways to look at these moves. Portis getting his contract renewed may come as a surprise because of the recent drama with Nikola Mirotic. Maybe if Mirotic gets traded the Portis-Mirotic situation will become easier.

Grant has started all four games to start the season in his second year with the team. The point guard and is averaging 10.8 points and 7.3 assists per game, but is shooting 39.5 percent from the field and is 1-for-10 on 3-point attempts.

Valentine has seen an increase in minutes in his second year in the NBA. He is averaging 10 points in 26.3 minutes per game while shooting 39.5 percent from 3.

The other two players whose options were picked up haven't yet distinguished themselves in a Bulls uniform. Dunn, one of the key pieces acquired in the Jimmy Butler trade, hasn't played for the team while missing the start of the year with a dislocated finger suffered in the preseason. Payne played 11 games with the team last year after arriving in a midseason trade with the Thunder that sent Taj Gibson to Oklahoma City. Payne hasn't played yet this year after undergoing foot surgery in the offseason.

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