Lonzo Ball isn’t close to returning, but he offered some hope to Bulls fans Friday by posting Instagram videos of himself dunking and running on a treadmill, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
Today marks the one-year anniversary of the torn meniscus that ended last season for Ball while the Bulls were 21-14 and fighting for the best record in the East. He was originally projected to miss six-to-eight weeks, but complications prevented him from returning at all. Those continued into the offseason and required an arthroscopic debridement in September that Ball is still working his way back from.
Coach Billy Donovan said the Instagram workouts are a sign of progress, but he cautioned that Ball still has a long way to go. He still feels discomfort in the knee, even though it has lessened, and hasn’t been medically cleared for cutting or full-speed running on the court every day.
“There’s going to be a pretty significant ramp-up period for him before he gets back on the floor,” Donovan explained. “Once they say, ‘Hey, he’s free to cut and sprint and take on contact,’ that’s just the first step of however long it’s going to take that process to get to a place where the medical guys and he feels comfortable that he’s built up enough endurance, strength and stamina that he can withstand coming back the next day and doing it again and doing it again.”
There’s more on the Bulls:
- Derrick Jones Jr. has seen his playing time decrease this season, but he figures to get more minutes while Javonte Green is sidelined following knee surgery, Johnson adds in a separate story. Jones welcomes the opportunity, but doesn’t like the circumstances that caused it. “I’m happy I’m in the rotation now. But I’m also sad that my guy is out. That’s my brother and I’ve always said from day one that I want to see him be great,” Jones said. “We have a great relationship. That’s my ‘dawg.’ I want him back now.”
- In another piece, Johnson identifies DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine as Chicago’s most valuable trade assets ahead of the February 9 deadline. Alex Caruso, Nikola Vucevic and Coby White also make the list, along with a first-round pick from Portland that’s lottery-protected through 2028.
- In the wake of Friday’s loss to Oklahoma City, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic laments the team’s lack of an identity and wonders whether Donovan has already accomplished as much as he can with the current roster.
ima really big lonzo fan but this isn’t sounding like something that will be great for him the rest of his career
Sounds like surgery 1 got botched… Surgery 2 had to repair that and it’s been a slow process…
I’m really worried about Lonzo Ball, and isn’t close to returning says it all. Also the mention of pain. I think they went in to do the surgery in September and found exactly what they feared, and didn’t want to see. However it happened, and whoever is to blame? There have been strong rumors about month out of the Ball surgery that he was gonna miss the season. Just rumors, but this is the first response to those rumors, and they appear to have had a little truth. 60 more days, and you might as well sit him the rest of the season.
How about this.
Lakers get DeRozan and Lonzo
Bulls get Westbrook
Salary match perfectly. No picks involve
Some fans like Westbrook because he is now a defensive organizer. LeBron and Davis focus on offense
Lmao no way bulls ever agree to that. Throw in both Lakers picks and maybe they’d start a conversation. Westbrook is a negative asset and demar is top 10-15 still
A defensive organizer lmao. Sillivan makes up more crap.
Not happening.
Westbrook is a negative value even with the expiring contract.
Lol right? I would expect this from that sankara dude but cmon man..
Bulls would need to add Caruso and some FRPs too, right? What about wearing a Lakers jersey makes people think they have ANYTHING of value.
Hurry and vote Austin Teaves into the ASG, can probly trade him straight up for Haliburton.
When I saw the reaves thing for all star i bifurcated how bad LA fans can make a voter presence . That’s so wrong. It’s gross.
The Bulls need to stop playing around and trade off everyone that has value and rebuild again.
Get picks and go from there!
Lonzo is a wash. He’s overrated and never plays. There are some players. Who prefer getting paid to sit than to play. Lonzo is one of them. Would never want him as a teammate. Bulls are stuck with Lonzo. So what can you do.
I’m sure Knicks would do LaVine or DeMar. I’m good with either depending on price.
Price Lavine: 2 unprotected FRPs, Randle and DRose
Price Deebo: 2 unprotected FRPs, take Caruso, give us Toppin & Brunson