Bulls look ahead: Positive Ball injury update still comes with wait time
Billy Donovan interrupted the regularly scheduled Bulls season with some positive news about Lonzo Ball.
Just keep in mind, this is all about a potential Ball return next season. Plenty could go right or wrong in his knee rehab between now and September.
“Hopefully in January he'll start running,” Donovan said. “The pain he was experiencing that was causing the setback I think has been eliminated. But he hasn't run. He's been able to do weight-training and different kind of mobility things and shoot stationary shots.”
Ball has been largely out of sight since he last played for the Bulls on Jan. 14, 2022. He was sidelined by a sore left knee the next day and has not returned. Two arthroscopic surgeries didn't help, so he had cartilage transplant surgery in March.
Ball did make an appearance at Bulls media day before the season, then clapped back at Stephen A. Smith by posting a video showing him getting out of a chair using just his healthier leg.
So there was always a chance Ball could return next season after a 2 1/2-year absence. He has a player option worth $21.4 million for 2024-25.
“He was in town last week so we spent some time together,” Donovan said. “I give him a lot of credit. It's amazing, his disposition has not changed at all. It's really remarkable. And not to say he's carefree, because he's not. I know the guy wants to be out there playing. The game's been taken away from him for a couple years now.
“But his attitude and the optimism that he is going to get back on the floor, I appreciate. When you go through what he's been through it's very easy to sit there and start to doubt and question.”
There are a couple reasons the Bulls have been willing to wait for Ball. One is he's under contract, obviously. He's also just 26 years old, and the Bulls would love to see another round of the Ball-Alex Caruso defensive mayhem they used with such success early in the 2021-22 season.
There are few players better than the 6-6 Ball at double-teaming the ball, because he's got the length to pester taller players and the speed to recover quickly. Combined with Caruso roaming the passing lanes, that Bulls lineup posted a 27-11 record before Ball was sidelined.
If Ball does return, the Bulls could have a nice young nucleus in 2024 of Ball, Caruso, 30; Coby White, 24; Patrick Williams 23; Ayo Dosunmu, 24. The goal is to create a roster and style of play other NBA stars want to join.
Ball's status is just one of the storylines awaiting the Bulls in 2024. Here are some others:
LaVine in limbo:
Donovan said Zach LaVine is progressing well with his foot injury. LaVine has done some cutting in a controlled environment and could progress to live play in a few days. He's likely a few weeks from any serious thoughts of returning to game action.
LaVine has been sidelined since Nov. 30, and the Bulls have gone 9-5 in his absence. LaVine's camp is looking for a trade, but he'll likely have to prove he's healthy and playing well for there to be even a chance the Bulls find a taker for his hefty contract.
There's really no telling where this story will go. LaVine could come back, play well and stick around, or the Bulls may be ready to move on and take the first trade available, if there is one.
DeRozan in waiting:
Top scorer DeMar DeRozan will be a free agent at the end of this season. Should the Bulls trade him before the deadline, try to negotiate a contract extension or just let it play out? DeRozan will be 35 when next season begins, so that's a concern, but the Bulls could also use a veteran presence.
Progress report:
The Bulls added to their player development staff last summer and it seems to be paying dividends as Ayo Dosunmu, Patrick Williams and especially Coby White have made nice improvements. White has become a contender for the NBA's Most Improved Player Award. The Bulls need to add Dalen Terry and rookies Julian Phillips and Adama Sanogo to the improved list by next season.
Draft day returns:
With the Orlando trade for Nikola Vucevic finally complete, the Bulls will get to keep their first-round draft pick in 2024. The '25 pick goes to San Antonio, though, from the deal that sent DeRozan to Chicago.
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