For the third consecutive year, it looks like the Chicago Bulls are destined for another mediocre season.
The Bulls are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference and own a sub-.500 record, barely qualifying for the Play-In Tournament.
Chicago appears primed to blow up their roster and start from scratch, but so far have resisted trading away some of their worthwhile players on the roster.
DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso have garnered the most trade interest, though Zach LaVine is the player most expected to get moved.
LaVine’s been on and off the floor during the 2023-24 NBA season due to multiple injuries and his gargantuan contract makes him an unappetizing player to trade for.
However, the Bulls announced LaVine will undergo season-ending foot surgery that all but eliminates any possibility of a deal, via Shams Charania of The Athletic.
“Zach LaVine is expected to have surgery during the upcoming week and miss a total of 4-to-6 months,” Charania reported.
Zach LaVine is expected to have surgery during the upcoming week and miss a total of 4-to-6 months. https://t.co/ORe6buhLHm
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2024
It’s a tough blow for Chicago, as LaVine as the star guard is still a useful player when healthy on the floor.
A legitimate three-level scorer, LaVine is talented enough to elevate an offense on his own but now the Bulls will need to lean on the rest of the roster to pick up the slack.
Alternatively, LaVine’s injury could force Chicago to consider trading away its veteran players to jumpstart a potential rebuild.
Short on high draft picks, the Bulls need to start seriously considering the future of the franchise as the current iteration is nowhere close to competing for a title.
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NBA Teams Are Reportedly Expressing Interest In Bulls Veteran
