APRIL 16: LaVine entered the health and safety protocols after registering a positive coronavirus test, says Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Assuming it wasn’t a false positive, that means the All-Star guard will likely miss at least a couple weeks or so.
APRIL 15: Bulls star Zach LaVine is expected to miss several games after entering the NBA’s health and safety protocols, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
Wojnarowski’s report comes on the heels of the Bulls’ PR department announcing that the team had to call off Thursday’s practice due to the protocols, per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago (Twitter link). Since there’s an expectation that LaVine will miss multiple games, it sounds like he either came into close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 or registered a positive test himself.
It’s bad timing for the Bulls, who have lost four consecutive games – and 10 of their last 13 – as they attempt to hang onto a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. The 22-32 club holds the No. 10 seed for now, but is just one game ahead of the Raptors and Wizards, and two games ahead of the Cavaliers.
Assuming they’re not affected by the protocols, Tomas Satoransky, Coby White, Garrett Temple, and Denzel Valentine are among the players who could see a bump in minutes with LaVine unavailable.
Wow. I was already saying before this that I would be worried if I were a bulls fan.
Is this rock bottom?
Not yet.. once Markkanen isn’t there to blame, and Vuc/LaVine walk or get traded, that’ll be rock bottom.
Crazy how they blame Markkanen or Carter when he was here. Bulls FO has failed real simple. Never been a Donovan fan. He failed in OKC. He had more talent there than any coach in history on NBA. He should’ve stayed in college. No LaVine means no playoffs. Good thing is they can probably finally get their PG. I would do everything to get Mitchell. Then the PG from down Under (Josh Giddey).
Zach just end the wait. NYC will show you the love. You can take the Knicks to Finals…..
Lmao. Not much else to say about this one.
How is a COVID protocol quarantine the fault of the front office?
They will be fine. Markannen leaving is a plus, improvement by subtraction. Now they can really evaluate the roster other than Vooch, Lavine, and Williams, Hunger Games style. My guess is that they keep Brown for D, Valentine for his passing, Satoransky as a versatile combo guard. All the rest will have to earn a spot or will be let go or traded as part of a deal to get a pg. Theis would be great to keep if they can, and worth spending some minutes at PF, the rotations with him, Vooch, and Lavine have looked good.
To reiterate, the only guys THIS front office is responsible for are Williams, Vucevich, Brown, and Theis – oh and Aminu, but he was apparently salary filler. So give them a little more rope Al before you hang them, they are just getting started.
Sorry totally forgot about Javonte Green, which is easy to do, believe he also was filler.
Your right they are new. But Markkanen rumors have been there since day 1. LaVine rumors have been there since day one. Carter rumors have been there since day one. No PG has been there since day one. Dude I’m a Knick fan. I’m the most patient guy on this board. You don’t mess with LaVine contract. They better pray he don’t walk. I’ve always thought Bulls have better talent than Knicks. Yet one coach does it NY. And Donovan has done what. Like I said never been his fan. But I agree with you FO deserves more than a yr.
What was that? Recruiting a player on the internet with ol’ ball coach talk?
Fortunately this site goes to Florida also, where Carter is. “Rumors have been there since day one.” lol
You follow ball, you know. Rumors have come out of Chicago almost since day they were drafted. Two yrs ago it was trading LaVine. Most have been about Markkanen n Carter. Personally I don’t like when teams don’t back their players. Especially when they are still young. Doesn’t help team or player
You didn’t lie, I just don’t like coach-talk.
Watch the Bulls play better basketball, now that their primary stat-padding ballhog is gone. Time for some team basketball instead of LaVine forcing his 20 to 30 shots per night while his squad gets stomped.
Lavine has been incredibly efficient this year and his assists are up dramatically. I was not a fan, but he now has dedicated himself to being the best player he can be. They will re sign him to a max, and I guarantee they are not done trading. Donovan is like a carpenter trying to work without a hammer – they need a real pg, which is obvious when Bulls play teams that do, like Memphis or Phoenix.
Stop the nonsense Zach ain’t the problem..
Players need to step it up.. Ain’t nothing gone change unless they play ball and be consistent.. Like they should a been doing… Players better step bc some playing for they job
Bad news but they have at least one full year to run back with Vooch and LaVine. They might be better off missing the playoffs at this point and getting a lotto talent or flipping the pick for another role player or two for next year.
LaVine and Vooch are young enough and talented enough that with a real offseason and a full 82 games this team should *at least* be a playoff team next year.
LaVine and Vučević are both career losers, one coming from UCLA over Minnesota to Chicago and the other one from USC over the Magic to the Bulls.
They’re shot-chucking ballhogs, who don’t play defense and put up shiny fool’s gold offensive numbers while their team gets hammered.
Combining LaVine with Vučević is similar to joining two one-legged runners at the hip in an effort to win the Olympic steeplechase.
“Shot-chucking ballhogs” don’t have the efficiency numbers of LaVine and Vooch this year. Look at someone like Anthony Edwards for those stats.
I’m not saying they’re championship material. But it’s not out of the realm of possibility they could be in the 4-6 seed range next year. I mean the Vooch-led Magic made a few playoff appearances, and they didn’t have a guy nearly as talented as LaVine on those teams.
They would have to get lucky with the ping pong balls, the puck goes to Magic, top 4 protected.
This will be a blessing in disguise. It increases the likelihood that they get to keep their pick next year. They have a solid, young group to build around with Lavine, Vucevic, Pat, etc…. but they weren’t winning anything this year anyway. This squad needs a legit PG and a big that can block shots, defend and rebound.
Lavine better test free agency…
Losing LaVine would be major. This Bulls team needs a traditional PG. Not a big fan of Ball. I question his attitude. But his game would easily make them a playoff team. Even a guy like Payton would help them. Coby is more a combo guard, best as third guard. Lowry could hold it down for two yrs. Then get a PG in draft.