Otto Porter Jr. just can’t catch a break.
Just as he was beginning to find his footing as a rotation player for the Toronto Raptors this year, the 30-year-old forward sustained a left foot contusion Friday night against the Charlotte Hornets and was immediately ruled out.
If there’s good news for Toronto, initial X-rays came back negative, Raptors coach Darko Rajaković said post-game. Word is he’s doing “well” but considering Porter’s injury history, any ailment is alarming.
The Raptors had worked relentlessly to keep Porter healthy this year. The team was keeping him out of back-to-backs and giving him extra time off this year after he missed almost all of last season with a toe injury on his left foot. He barely participated in the team’s training camp and preseason activities and had been in and out of the rotation this year for conditioning reasons, Rajaković said.
Toronto had only just begun to work Porter back into the rotation when he sustained the injury. Rajaković wanted to use him as a small-ball center and someone who could space the floor and provide veteran stability on both ends of the court.
“His natural position, at this stage of his career, is playing some three and four and stretching the floor out but also he’s capable to be in pick and roll, pick and pops, stretch the floor that way as well,” Rajaković said. “I think just his experience on the court, knowing where to be on the court, communicating with guys helps us on the court.”
Considering his track record, don’t be surprised if the Raptors play it extra careful with Porter. They’ll have a couple of days off to see how his foot feels before Monday’s game against the New York Knicks but at this point, Porter is likely to get some time off to heal up once again.
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