Zach LaVine Out for the Season
Yesterday it was announced to the world that Chicago Bulls starting shooting guard Zach LaVine, who has not played in a game since he sprained his right ankle against the Toronto Raptors on January 18th, will undergo season-ending surgery on his right foot. While this news is saddening to hear for any Bulls fan as he is one of if not the best player on their roster it is the right decision for LaVine as he has been struggling with foot pain on and off for the entirety of this season. This news will also begin a deeper discussion about what direction the Bulls want to go with him ahead of the NBA trade deadline this Thursday, February 3rd at 3 PM EST. Will we see the Bulls deal Zach LaVine to another team this week? While the likelihood of that seems slim, being that no team up to this point has wanted to take the injured LaVine and his 129-million-dollar contract throughout the next few seasons, it is still a possibility.
LaVine, plagued by injuries this season has only gotten to play in 25 games. Even in those games, anyone can tell LaVine’s injuries have still been a problem for him as he is having his statistically speaking, since his first season with the Bulls in the 2017-2018 NBA season where he averaged 16.7 points a game, worst season averaging 19.5 points a night. Yes, 19.5 points a night still shows he can be one of the better players on an NBA team, but his numbers are down from the past few seasons in virtually every category exemplifying why having this foot surgery is the right move for LaVine. He will miss four to six months according to his doctors and while are all hoping for a speedy recovery, this news should not be taken lightly for the Bulls.
Chicago, with a record of 23-27 through 50 games, currently sits 9th in the Eastern Conference standings. Small forward DeMar DeRozan averaging 22 points this season, point guard Coby White averaging 19 points this year, and center Nikola Vucevic averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds this season, among others are going to have to step it up even more than they already have for the next 32 games now that LaVine is officially out for the rest of the season if they want to see themselves in the playoffs or play-in tournament this year. While a lot of that could change based on what moves the Bulls decide to make ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, it does not currently look like they are going to begin any sense of a rebuild. Should the Bulls push for the playoffs this season or begin the rebuild of a team that may fall apart very soon?
