Zach LaVine and the Bulls explored several options before the decision was made to have surgery to relieve the pain in his right foot, writes Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. The team announced earlier today that LaVine has opted for a surgical procedure with a projected recovery time of four-to-six months, which should have him ready well before the start of training camp.
“Everybody’s been in lockstep,” coach Billy Donovan told reporters before tonight’s game. “It wasn’t necessarily an organizational decision of, ‘Hey, listen, he needs to do surgery.’ It was, like, ‘Listen, this is still a problem. We need to start talking to other people as well to try to get different opinions.’”
LaVine missed 17 games earlier in the season because of discomfort in his foot. He was able to return and play seven games last month before suffering a sprained right ankle. That injury has healed, but LaVine is once again being bothered by foot pain. Donovan expressed empathy for his star guard, saying he hates being sidelined with injuries.
“Personally, I feel bad for him,” Donovan added. “I know how bad he wants to play and how badly he wants to be out there. When he can’t be out there, it just bothers him. He just wants to play.”
There’s more from Chicago:
- The Bulls’ most recent trade discussions with the Pistons regarding LaVine focused on Bojan Bogdanovic and Joe Harris, league sources tell K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. The sources weren’t certain if there were draft picks involved from either team. Johnson also speculates on whether LaVine’s surgery will affect the front office’s desire to hold onto DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso through the trade deadline in hopes of chasing a spot in the postseason. Johnson identifies the Warriors as one of several teams that have inquired about Caruso.
- Lonzo Ball provided an update on his condition during an appearance on the NBC Sports Chicago telecast of Friday’s game, Johnson relays in a separate story. Ball, who has been sidelined for more than two full years and has undergone three knee surgeries, said he’s trying to stay positive and appreciate little signs of progress. “Definitely doing much better in rehab,” he said. “It’s been a long process, obviously, longer than I’d like it to be. It’s definitely cut out in stages and I keep checking off the boxes I’m supposed to and getting better each week.”
- Torrey Craig returned tonight after missing the last 22 games due to right plantar fascia, Johnson tweets.
I wonder where Lonzo ranks in the all-time overhyped list?
Would Rockets do this?
Jalen Green for Caruso
Lakers can do Dlo/Rui for DeRozan/Caruso AND 2029 unprotected AND 2030 Swaps
Caruso
The 29-year-old is averaging 10.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 42 games while shooting 48.7 percent from the floor and 40.9 percent from deep.
Jalen Green is 2nd overall pick
Caruso is undrafted
Would Bulls say yes?
your point?
Don’t feed the bot
Trade Idea
Bulls get Klay, Wiggins, Moody, Santos, 2028 unprotected
Warriors get DeRozan, Ball, Vucevic, Caruso
Salary matching
Bulls trade away Ball and get 2028 unprotected
I don’t understand why either team would do this.
This is far too large of a trade to work. Plus with Wiggins and Klay in down years, I don’t know why the bulls would give up some of their most valuable assets for that little
I think sillivan touches himself to trade ideas
I laughed..
He is a bot
How can he be a he if it’s a bot tho ?
Bulls need scorers. Hopefully they can do something at the trade deadline, but without trading Caruso or DeRozan, which makes sense. That leaves them with maybe Vucevic. But the Bulls are stubborn. Let’s hope they try to improve. Any organization with any structure would have fired the head coach already, Donovan sucks, so they’re keeping that organizational function together, probably so they don’t make it worse than it already is. but hopefully they make a deal and at least try to make a run. Best they can do.
Bulls prediction for this season, next, the one after that and after that…..
Mediocrity is maintained. Fans keep attending games.
1. LaVine is injury-prone, so the bidders for him will not exist.
2. Trade DD and Vooch!
Warriors are the best bet and if Wiggins is part of the return flip him to Detroit for something.
3. Move Williams to SF and get a PF!
I’ve seen some reports that the Bulls may be able to get a 1st round pick for Caruso, it might be worth exploring
LaVine for Bogan and Joe Harris, surely a first round pick aswell. That’s criminal hahahah
If that’s the case be huge sellers/buyer at the deadline and really flip this team.
Alex Caruso and that first you get for Jalen Green.
Nikola Vucevic and DeMare DeRozan for DeAndre Hunter, Clint Capela and AJ Green.
White J. Green Hunter Bojan Capela
Carter Harris A. Green Williams Drummond
Might not look like much but that’s your backcourt set and something you can try build around. Hunter is a nice 3 and D wing as is Patrick Williams if he hangs around. You have a bunch of expiring/near expiring deals in Harris, Capela, Bojan, and Lonzo. Would be better than getting back nothing for DeMare, letting Zach go for nothing, and wasting Carusos time