Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said that Zach LaVine‘s sore left knee has been responding well to treatment and he continues to do on-court work, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago (Twitter link). Donovan added that there’s still no specific date the team is targeting for LaVine’s return, but is hopeful it could occur “middle-to-late” next week.
The Bulls play Wednesday, Jan. 26 against Toronto, Friday, Jan. 28 at San Antonio, and Sunday, Jan. 30 against Portland, so it’s possible LaVine could return on one of those dates. Assuming things continue to progress in a positive direction, I would imagine the team will be cautious with its star player and would guess Sunday as the most likely outcome, but it all depends on how he’s feeling.
An MRI last Saturday revealed no structural damage to Lavine’s knee, but he had played through soreness for a couple of weeks prior to exiting the team’s loss against Golden State last Friday with “discomfort.” LaVine played less than four minutes in the 42-point loss, but through 38 contests, he still holds stellar averages of 24.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists this season, shooting 49% from the floor and 41% from deep.
LaVine’s strong play is a major reason why the Bulls are 28-15, tied with Miami for first place in the East. The Bulls have gone 1-2 in LaVine’s absence thus far (1-3 counting the game against Golden State) and face the defending champion Bucks on Friday night.
Chicago has been hit hard by injuries this season. In addition to LaVine, second-year forward Patrick Williams had wrist surgery and is expected to miss most, if not all, of the season, Javonte Green has been dealing with a strained adductor, Derrick Jones Jr. has a bone bruise in his right knee, and Lonzo Ball is undergoing knee surgery next week to repair a torn meniscus, which will sideline him for several weeks. The team also had three games postponed in December due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
All this time out for LaVine and Ball, very well could ultimately help them in the long run and towards a playoff run.
With Ayo Dosunmu and C.White both doing work in their absence, and working well together as a backcourt tandem they should be able to continue their runs as the leaders of the second unit once LaVine and Ball both eventually come back.
However, I still think the Bulls are a real piece away from doing any sustainable damage in the playoffs, and P.Williams ain’t coming back anytime soon. Even with him, they could arguably still use another big, but especially without him, the Bulls desperately need another 4/small ball 5.
Millsap could be a good start, and would work perfectly in tandem with P.Williams, but they realistically could use someone that can withstand a decent load and some banging down low..
Im done with coby.to on off player.his shooting tonight was awful.trade him for wood.add blazers pick and tbj.carusow should start over coby.
White should be traded for a PF and let move forward…
Question: Can Vucevic play alongside Sabonis? If so… Williams, Jones, Green, 22 1st for Sabonis.
Other options.. Jones and a 2nd for Favors or Harrell.
I dont think its enough for sabonis.and bulls dont need another batman.bulls need defensive pf who dont ask the ball.wood or richaun holmes are better option.derick favors is good option to.
Depends on how you value Pat Williams. You could swap out for Turner but his foot is jacked up.
Holmes is just a rim runner not a good fit at the 4.
Wood can probably play alongside Vucevic bc he can shoot. I wouldn’t deal Pat Will for him tho. Would need to do 1st, Jones, Bradley/Green and probably a 2nd.
There’s no crushed meniscus like Collin Sexton’s crushed meniscus like no torn meniscus I know. Everything about it is crushed, everything the MRIs allow.