The Chicago Bulls will sign Jordan Bell to a 10-day hardship contract.

Bell's draft rights were traded by the Bulls to the Golden State Warriors during the 2017 draft.

Bell is averaging 10.8 points, 12.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 28.6 minutes per game in nine G League games this season for the Santa Cru Warriors. 

The NBA has denied the Chicago Bulls request for a Disabled Player Exception for Patrick Williams. The forward dislocated his left wrist on October 28. The Bulls expect that Williams will be out for the remainder of the season.

When a team petitions for a Disabled Player Exception, an independent board reviews the player's injury and prospects of return. If it is determined the player is "more likely than not" to be out through June of the given season, the team is granted the exception

The amount of a Disabled Player Exception is the greater of half of the injured player's salary or the equivalent of the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception. The exception can then be used to sign, claim of waivers or trade for one player whose salary fits inside of the exception amount and is expiring after the season.

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball has entered the NBA's health and safety protocols. Ball is the only Bulls player to not have missed a game this season.

Chicago has had 11 different players enter the protocols this month. In addition, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan is currently in the protocols.

Ball has averaged 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocks per game for the Bulls. Ball is in the first year of a four-year, $80 million contract with Chicago.

The Chicago Bulls are waiving forward Alize Johnson. Johnson has played in 16 games for Chicago this season. The three-year veteran averaged just 7.5 minutes per game for the Bulls.

With several players exiting the NBA's health and safety protocols, Chicago has some roster decisions to make. Johnson's deal was set to become fully guaranteed on the league-wide guarantee date of January 10.

Johnson is being waived to allow the Bulls to keep a player currently on a 10-Day hardship contract. Alfonzo McKinnie, who has played well for Chicago, will sign a standard contract for the remainder of the season. McKinnie has played 25 minutes per game since signing with the Bulls, and has averaged eight points per contest.

Billy Donovan has entered the NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Donovan becomes the fourth head coach to enter the protocols.

Chris Fleming will be the acting head coach in Donovan's absence.

The Bulls had as many as 10 players in the protocol earlier this month, which led to two of their games being postponed.

The Chicago Bulls have signed forward Ersan Ilyasova to a 10-day contract pursuant to the NBA’s COVID-related hardship allowance.

Ilyasova (6-9, 235) is a 13-year NBA veteran with stops in Milwaukee, Detroit, Orlando, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Utah.

Most recently with the Jazz in 2020-21, he averaged 3.8 points through 17 games.

Alex Caruso has been a key player in the Chicago Bulls surprising start to the season. The offseason addition has played well either as a reserve or as a spot-starter for the Bulls. Unfortunately, after recently missing time with a hamstring strain, Caruso will now be out for at least a week due to a foot sprain.

The Bulls said Caruso sprained his left foot against the Houston Rockets on Monday. He's expected to miss 7-to-10 days due to the injury.

In his first season in Chicago, Caruso has averaged 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists for the 19-10 Bulls. Caruso has also been lauded for his perimeter defense, which has helped key Chicago's top-10 defensive rating.

The Chicago Bulls have agreed to sign Mac McClung to a 10-day hardship deal.

McClung is averaging 19.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 31.7 minutes over 13 games this season with the South Bay Lakers. 

The Chicago Bulls have signed Alfonzo McKinnie to a second 10-day contract.

In two games with the team during his first 10-day, McKinnie averaged 4.0 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.0 assist in 23.0 minutes per game.

The Chicago Bulls have been among the teams hit hardest by COVID outbreaks. That finally seems to be clearing up for Chicago. The Bulls were cleared to practice on Saturday. It'll be their first team activity in a week.

In recent days, DeMar DeRozan, Javonte Green and Coby White cleared the NBA's health and safety protocols. Seven other Bulls remain out. Chicago head coach Billy Donovan said he expects some of the absences to extend until after Christmas.

The NBA took the step of postponing two Bulls this week. The games against the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors became the first postponements of the 2021-22 season.