Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen told local reporters on Wednesday that power forward Bobby Portis will participate in contract drills on Thursday.

Bobby Portis suffered a sprained right ankle on Dec. 19 and has been out of action for the Bulls ever since.

Portis has only played in nine games this season, as he has been bit by the injury bug. Before suffering the ankle sprain in December, Portis missed 23 consecutive matches due to a knee injury. He played in five games before sustaining the ankle ailment.

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The 23-year-old Portis is averaging 11.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game this season while shooting 41.3 percent from the floor and 68.2 percent from the free-throw line.

Portis will become a restricted free agent after this season ends if the Bulls offer him a $3.61 million qualifying offer. The three-year pro is making $2.59 million this year.

Chicago is in rebuild mode right now. The Bulls enter Wednesday with a record of 10-27, 13th place in the Eastern Conference standings. Portis is actually one of the few players on the team who can play both ends of the floor well, so Boylen probably can't wait to get him back in the lineup since he loves players who give effort on defense.