Which Bulls are out of protocols, available vs. Raptors?

Between Dec. 1 and Dec. 13, 10 Chicago Bulls players entered the NBA's health and safety protocols.

In turn, the league postponed the team's Dec. 14 home game against the Detroit Pistons and Dec. 16 road bout against the Toronto Raptors earlier this week.

Now, with consecutive wins against the Lakers and Rockets, they're back, but still not yet at full strength.

Here is a rundown of which Bulls players are in and out of health and safety protocols with a home matchup against the Toronto Raptors looming on Wednesday:

Which Chicago Bulls players are out of COVID-19 protocols?

Troy Brown Jr. on Tuesday became the latest Bulls player to clear the league's health and safety protocols. Before Sunday's win over the Lakers, Coby White, Javonte Green, DeMar DeRozan and Derrick Jones Jr. did the same.

Brown Jr. is listed as questionable for the Toronto game as he ramps his conditioning back up to game-readiness. He entered protocols on Dec. 12 with what Billy Donovan later told reporters was a symptomatic case of COVID-19.

Which Chicago Bulls players are in COVID-19 protocols?

One day after logging 14 minutes in Monday's win over the Rockets, Devon Dotson on Tuesday became the 12th Bulls player this season to enter protocols.

Dotson joins Matt Thomas, Ayo Dosunmu, Zach LaVine and Alize Johnson as players currently in protocols. Thomas, Dosunmu, LaVine and Johnson were all listed as doubtful against the Raptors on the injury report.

NBA guidelines dictate that players in protocols must remain there for 10 days, or until they return two negative PCR tests in a 24-hour window, before exiting. Then, they must pass cardiac screening before being cleared to play. Thomas entered protocols on Dec. 8, Dosunmu on Dec. 11, LaVine on Dec. 12, and Johnson on Dec. 13.

Donovan had previously said that the team doesn't expect Dosunmu, LaVine, Brown Jr. or Alize Johnson back until after Christmas. After the Raptors game, the Bulls are off on Dec. 23, 24 and 25 before returning for a back-to-back set on Dec. 26 and 27.

“That obviously can change based on the testing protocols, which has obviously got to be two negative tests,” Donovan added of the above timeline, which is evident given the Brown Jr. update. “But that’s kind of what we’re anticipating at this point and time.”

Who is available for Bulls-Raptors?

On the Bulls' side, DeRozan, White, Green, Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vučević, Tony Bradley, Marko Simonović, Alfonzo McKinnie and Tyler Cook make nine available players for Wednesday's game against the Raptors. Recent reported 10-day signings Ersan Ilyasova and Mac McClung would add two more, assuming they arrive and are cleared without interruption. Brown Jr. would make another if he's cleared.

Already listed out for the contest are Jones Jr., who suffered a hamstring strain in Sunday's win over the Lakers, and Alex Caruso, who sprained his foot in the first quarter of the Houston game. Donovan said Monday that Jones Jr. would be re-evaluated after the Raptors game. The team hasn't yet provided an update on the severity of Caruso's injury.

The Raptors, meanwhile, have seven players listed out and in health and safety protocols: Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, Precious Achiuwa, Dalano Banton and Malachi Flynn. Khem Birch (right knee swelling) is questionable, while Goran Dragić (not with team), Justin Champagnie (non-COVID illness) and David Johnson (left calf strain) are all out. Champagnie and Johnson are two-way players.

That leaves the Raptors with OG Anunoby, Chris Boucher, Yuta Watanabe, Svi Mykhailuk, Issac Bonga and recent 10-day signings in Brandon Goodwin, Juwan Morgan and Tremont Waters (all reported by The Athletic's Shams Charania) for the contest, which, as of now, is expected to be played.

Bulls reportedly sign Ersan Ilyasova, Mac McClung

Just before news of Dotson's protocol entry broke, Charania reported that the Bulls intend to sign Mac McClung to a 10-day hardship contract. Hours later, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the team intends to do the same with Ersan Ilyasova.

McClung is an undrafted rookie that split three college seasons between Georgetown and Texas Tech. A 6-foot-2 guard, he averaged 19.6 points, 5.8 assists and shot 40.3 percent from 3-point range in 13 appearances for the G League's South Bay Lakers this season.

Ilyasova, meanwhile, is a 13-year NBA veteran that has had stops in Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Detroit, Orlando, Oklahoma City, and last appeared in 17 games for the Utah Jazz in 2020-21. The skilled, 6-9 stretch power forward has averaged 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and shot 36.7 percent from 3 in 825 career games, and offers the Bulls some depth in the frontcourt.

Previously, the Bulls signed McKinnie and Stanley Johnson, who entered protocols shortly after and has had his 10-day expire, to hardship deals. McKinnie on Monday re-upped for a second 10-day.

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