Bulls' Tomáš Satoranský, Chandler Hutchison Back at Practice Post-COVID-19

Sato, Hutch back at Bulls practice with 2 starters up in air originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

After bouts with COVID-19, Tomáš Satoranský and Chandler Hutchison returned to Bulls practice on Tuesday. Each reported feeling well as they ramp their conditioning back up following respective 10-game absences.

Head coach Billy Donovan said both are on track to return to play Friday when the team visits the Charlotte Hornets.

"They went through everything today in practice," Donovan said. "If they continue on the path they’re on today, they should be available to play on Friday."

Satoranský and Hutchison entered the NBA's health and safety protocol following the team's Dec. 29 victory over the Wizards in Washington D.C. The Bulls announced that Hutchison had tested positive on Jan. 1; Satoranský's result was announced Jan. 3.

Hutchison remained in the nation's capital for a lengthy stay before returning to Chicago last week. He experienced symptoms he described as being comparable to a "rough flu," but says he's fully recovered physically, including all clears on blood and cardiovascular testing.

"Now it's just a matter of getting back into shape and locking back into now being back with the team and all those things that come with it," Hutchison said.

Satoranský said he didn't experience serious symptoms, but added that it was frustrating to isolate again after going through a nine-day contact tracing quarantine during preseason, and anxiety-wrenching to do so away from his family, whose health he worried for. Fortunately, Satoranský reported that they tested negative throughout the process. So, too, did Lauri Markkanen and Ryan Arcidiacono, who shared a Sprinter van with Satoranský on a drive back to Chicago after entering protocol, but before learning of Satoranský's positive.

"I’m a strong person mentally and I just tried to rest and get rid of it and follow guys and observe their game and how they play and try to help as much as I can immediately once I come back," said Satoranský.

Both Satoranský and Hutchison concurred with Donovan's assessment that they should be available to go Friday.

Meanwhile, Patrick Williams, who was held out of Monday's win over the Houston Rockets with a hip contusion, has yet to fully return to practice. Donovan said he did some running Wednesday, but didn't go through any contact.

Wendell Carter Jr. left practice with a thigh contusion and wasn't able to return.

"I’d say right now the two guys up in the air going forward are Wendell and Patrick," Donovan said.

Before Monday, Williams and Carter had started all 13 of the Bulls' games. Carter, especially, had been rounding into form of late.

So Satoranský and Hutchison's returns are well-timed for a Bulls' team surging offensively and already enjoying solid contributions from a short-handed bench. Still, Donovan will treat their reacclimation with sensitivity.

"As we start to implement new players coming back, there’s going to be an adjustment period for that -- how those guys fit in, when they fit in, what their role is," Donovan said. "I’m not quite sure right now, because we’re still going day by day in a lot of respects because of COVID and we’ve had some injuries... We’ve had some guys out, and now guys are coming back. It’s tough, but everybody is dealing with it."

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