Denzel Valentine underwent a left ankle stabilization procedure by Dr. Robert Anderson in Green Bay on Tuesday. 

Valentine will be out for the 2018-19 season and is anticipated to return to full basketball activities in approximately six months.

Lauri Markkanen has been cleared by team doctors for full contact in practice.

“Lauri is excited, his teammates are excited and certainly his coaches are excited,’’ Fred Hoiberg said.

Markkanen injured his right elbow the first week of camp.

“Yeah, the plan for Lauri is to have a full-contact practice with no limitations [on Tuesday],’’ Hoiberg said. “It’s going to be a day-by-day situation. If he has soreness, we’ll obviously scale back, but if he keeps making progress, we can keep getting him out on the floor soon.’’

Markkanen could return in time for Chicago's game on Dec. 4.

Denzel Valentine has been diagnosed with ongoing ankle instability.

After being evaluated by Dr. Bob Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Valentine will undergo a surgical reconstruction by Dr. Anderson the week of Nov. 26 with an anticipated recovery time of four-to-six months. 

Valentine is expected to make a full recovery and have a normal summer of offseason training leading into training camp for the 2019-20 season.

The future of Tom Thibodeau as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves is uncertain as they move into a new phase without Jimmy Butler.

The Wolves were the No. 8 seed last season.

Glen Taylor is known to be very fond of Fred Hoiberg as a potential coaching candidate, who coincidentally replaced Thibodeau with the Bulls.

Ryan Saunders, who is an assistant coach on Thibodeau's staff, is also held in high regard by Taylor.

Before Nikola Mirotic was traded by the Chicago Bulls to the New Orleans Pelicans, he wasn't a particularly popular member of the organization.

The front office reportedly couldn't wait to trade Mirotic and some of his teammates weren't particularly bothered when he was punched in the face by Bobby Portis.

“I’ll say this about Niko: He was unbelievable throughout everything,” coach Fred Hoiberg said. “I loved the opportunity to coach Niko. What he did when he got back from the injury last year and helped us in that seven-game win streak, you know he was playing great basketball. I give him all the credit in the world and everyone involved with what happened last year. A lot of credit for not letting that affect the team.

“Niko was great. Fun guy to coach, and he was obviously skilled in a lot of different ways. I’m happy he’s having a lot of success in New Orleans.’’