Bulls vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said Wednesday that LaVine (foot) has been "fully cleared" after undergoing surgery in February, Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com reports.
LaVine had surgery on his right foot in early February with a recovery timetable of 4-to-6 months. A little over four months removed from the procedure, LaVine has been fully cleared and should be a full-go for training camp. The 28-year-old appeared in just 25 games during 2023-24 due to a few injuries, including the right foot issue that lingered throughout the campaign before February's shut down. He averaged fewer than 20 points and four assists per for the first time since 2017 last year.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Undergoes surgery
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LaVine underwent season-ending surgery on his right foot Thursday, Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com reports.
LaVine's need for a procedure was announced last week, and Bulls Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas said Thursday that the 28-year-old remains on a recovery timetable of 4-to-6 months following his procedure. LaVine wasn't traded by Chicago ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, which wasn't particularly surprising given his limited trade value due to his season-ending injury. He'll now shift his focus toward his lengthy recovery process, but it seems likely that he'll be ready to return to the court for training camp ahead of the 2024-25 season.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Getting surgery, out for season
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The Bulls announced Saturday that LaVine will undergo season-ending surgery on his right foot next week and will require 4-to-6 months of recovery time.
Though he had healed from an ankle sprain that plagued him earlier in the season, LaVine hadn't played since Jan. 18 due to the foot injury. After sitting out for the past two and a half weeks, however, LaVine hadn't made enough notable progress in his recovery from the foot injury, prompting the Bulls to send him in for surgery. LaVine's upcoming surgery likely ends any potential trade discussions centering around the 28-year-old leading up to next Thursday's trade deadline, and he'll wrap up his 10th NBA season with averages of 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.4 three-pointers, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks in 34.9 minutes per game over 25 appearances on 45.2 percent shooting from the field and 85.4 percent shooting from the free-throw line. With LaVine out of the picture for the rest of the 2023-24 season, Coby White, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic should continue to dominate the usage on offense, while supporting players such as Ayo Dosunmu and Alex Caruso will continue to see heavy minutes in the starting five.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Out at least another week
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Coach Billy Donovan said Friday that LaVine (foot) will miss at least another week of game action, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
Donovan said that LaVine's right ankle sprain has healed, but the 28-year-old is dealing with discomfort in his right foot, the same issue that forced him to miss 17 games earlier this season. As a result, LaVine will be unavailable for at least three more matchups. Ayo Dosunmu should continue to see additional playing time while LaVine is sidelined.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Out another week
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LaVine (ankle) will miss at least another week of action, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
LaVine has been sidelined since spraining his right ankle back on Jan. 18, but his right foot is also bothering him and is related to a previous issue. Coach Billy Donovan said LaVine would be re-evaluated in another week, meaning the earliest he could see the floor is Feb. 3 against the Kings. Ayo Dosunmu has averaged 30.0 minutes over his last three games and will likely continue to see an uptick in playing time.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Out 1-to-2 weeks
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LaVine is expected to miss 1-to-2 weeks after undergoing an MRI on his sprained right ankle Friday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
LaVine suffered this injury during Thursday's 116-110 win over the Raptors, and based on the 1-to-2-week estimated recovery timeline, he'll miss at least the next three games. While LaVine is sidelined, DeMar DeRozan, Coby White and Nikola Vucevic should absorb most of the usage, while supporting players such as Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams (ankle) could have higher minutes ceilings.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Dealing with ankle issue
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LaVine left Thursday's game against the Raptors for a second time with a right ankle issue and never returned, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports. He finished with eight points (3-7 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 1-1 FT), three assists and two rebounds across 24 minutes.
LaVine rolled his ankle at the beginning of the third quarter, but he briefly returned to the game before checking out for good with 7:23 remaining in the fourth quarter. He clearly looked uncomfortable after the initial injury, and it's possible he could miss some time. For now, LaVine should be considered questionable for Saturday against the Grizzlies. Patrick Williams and Ayo Dosunmu would likely take on larger roles if LaVine ends up sitting Saturday.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Available to return
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LaVine (ankle) is available to return to Thursday's game against the Raptors, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic reports.
LaVine rolled his ankle with 10:39 left in the third quarter and limped to the locker room in discomfort, but the TNT broadcast announced that he would be available to return after just a few minutes. For now, it appears that he's going to be fine.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Tweaks ankle Thursday
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LaVine appeared to tweak his right ankle during Thursday's game against the Raptors and went to the locker room, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.
LaVine was driving to the basket and rolled his right ankle pretty good. He limped straight to the locker room with 10:39 left in the third quarter and wasn't putting much weight on the injured ankle. The Bulls haven't released anything official, so LaVine should be considered questionable to return.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Scores 17 points in loss
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LaVine closed Monday's 109-91 loss to the Cavaliers with 17 points (7-14 FG, 3-6 3Pt), four rebounds and four assists over 35 minutes.
LaVine has failed to reach the 20-point mark in his last two games, and even though he holds a prominent role on offense, a decrease in his numbers is expected given he shares the offense with two other dominant ballhandlers in DeMar DeRozan and Coby White. LaVine has been efficient despite the slight drop-off in numbers, though, as he's shooting 51.9 percent from the field in his last four contests since returning to a starting role.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Posts 25 in return to starting role
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LaVine recorded 25 points (8-15 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 5-6 FT), 13 rebounds, seven assists, one block and three steals over 41 minutes during Wednesday's 124-119 overtime victory over Houston.
LaVine started for the first time since Nov. 28 and looked impressive across the board, hitting the 20-point mark and ending just three assists away from a triple-double. Don't expect him to be so active in secondary categories outside of scoring in the coming games, but his return to the starting lineup should take away touches and minutes from several role players, such as Jevon Carter, Ayo Dosunmu and even Patrick Williams, going forward.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Will start Wednesday
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Coach Billy Donovan said LaVine's (foot) restrictions have been lifted, and the shooting guard will return to the starting lineup Wednesday against the Rockets, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
LaVine operated off the bench in back-to-back contests following a 17-game absence, but he'll return to the starting lineup Wednesday for the first time since Nov. 28. LaVine played 36 minutes in Monday's win in Charlotte, posting nine points (2-8 FG), five assists, three rebounds and two blocks.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Returns to injury report
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LaVine is probable to play Wednesday against Houston due to right shoulder soreness and right foot inflammation.
LaVine carried both injury designations into Monday's game against Charlotte before logging a full 36-minute workload, so his presence on Tuesday's injury report could be maintenance related. However, Chicago could opt to ramp him up cautiously after a 17-game absence due to inflammation/soreness in his right foot. More light will be shed on his status throughout Chicago's pre-game routines Wednesday.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Officially cleared
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LaVine (foot/shoulder) is available for Monday's game against the Hornets.
After a premature update cleared LaVine, coach Billy Donovan walked back his claim and said the shooting guard would need to go through pregame warmups before being deemed available. It seems like everything went as planned, so LaVine will suit up for a second straight contest following a 17-game absence. However, he'll operate off the bench again, as Alex Caruso will get the starting nod, and LaVine is expected to have his minutes monitored, though he played 30 minutes in Friday's win over Charlotte.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Deemed game-time decision
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LaVine (foot/shoulder) is a game-time decision for Monday's matchup against the Hornets, Chuck Swirsky of the Bulls Radio Network reports.
A previous report suggested LaVine would be able to suit up with a minutes restriction Monday, but he'll need to test things out in pregame warmups before the Bulls officially determine his status. However, even if he's available, he'll have his workload monitored as he continues to work on his conditioning.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Will play Monday
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Coach Billy Donovan said LaVine (foot/shoulder) will play Monday against the Hornets but will still be on a minute restriction, Sam Perley of the Hornets' official site reports.
LaVine returned to action Friday following a 17-game absence, totaling 15 points (6-11 FG), five rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes off the bench. He may move back into the starting lineup Monday, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to play more than 30 minutes during Chicago's rematch against Charlotte.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Downgraded to questionable
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LaVine (foot/shoulder) is questionable for Monday's game against the Hornets.
LaVine was initially listed as probable due to right foot inflammation, but he has been downgraded to questionable and is now being listed with right shoulder soreness, as well. This is a concerning development for LaVine, who returned to action Friday following a 17-game absence. If LaVine is ruled out, Ayo Dosunmu and Jevon Carter would be candidates for increased roles.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Listed as probable
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LaVine is probable for Monday's game against the Hornets due to right foot inflammation.
LaVine returned to action Friday following a 17-game absence due to a right foot injury. He operated off the bench, along with Nikola Vucevic (groin), and posted 16 points (6-11 FG), five rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes. LaVine and Vucevic are both expected to suit up Monday and will presumably return to the starting lineup.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Scores 15 points in return
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LaVine (foot) finished with 15 points (6-11 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 2-3 FT), five rebounds and four assists across 30 minutes during Friday's 104-91 win over the Hornets.
LaVine returned to the hardwood after a 17-game absence due to the right foot injury, and while he came off the bench, he still saw close to starter-level minutes. He could step back into the starting five for the Bulls' next matchup with the Hornets on Monday, but even if Chicago elects to keep him in the sixth-man role, LaVine is still worthy of activating in any league in which fantasy managers may have been stashing him in an injured reserve slot.
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Bulls' Zach LaVine: Available off bench Friday
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LaVine (foot) is available for Friday's game against the Hornets, but he'll be on a minutes restriction and operate off the bench, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.
LaVine will make his first appearance since Nov. 28 and operate off the bench for the first time since 2018-19. Nikola Vucevic (groin) will also return from a multi-game absence and operate as a reserve. The Bulls have been playing well in the absence of LaVine and Vucevic, due in large part to contributions from Coby White and Andre Drummond, so it'll be interesting to see how coach Billy Donovan opts to reintegrate LaVine and Vucevic into the rotation. LaVine will reportedly play between 25 and 30 minutes against Charlotte.
