LaVine is out for 4-6 months, undergoing surgery on right foot

Chicago Bulls fans were dealt a tough blow over the weekend when it was announced that star player Zach LaVine would have season-ending surgery on his right foot. This has raised several major questions for the franchise, especially with the NBA trade deadline looming and next year’s season coming up.

According to the Bulls’ official announcement, the decision was made after consultations with outside medical personnel, Klutch Sports Group, and the team’s training and medical staff. LaVine, a two-time All-Star, is expected to have surgery next week and will be out for four to six months.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan spoke about LaVine’s decision, saying, “He made a decision that I think he thought was best for his health. I really feel like he did everything he could to try to get himself back to playing. I think the discomfort in his foot was at a place where I think he just didn’t feel like he had any chance of being himself and really contributing, and I think that was really frustrating and hard for him.”

LaVine, who will turn 29 in March, previously missed 17 games from Nov. 30 to Jan. 3 due to inflammation in his right foot. During that time, Chicago went 10-7. The high-scoring guard returned on Jan. 5 against Charlotte, and the Bulls responded with a stretch of five wins in seven games. However, he rolled his right ankle during a victory against Toronto on Jan. 18, and while his ankle isn’t an issue anymore, his foot wasn’t responding well to treatment.

LaVine was acquired by the Bulls in a June 2017 trade with Minnesota. He re-signed with the team in July 2022 for a five-year contract worth about $215 million. This season, he averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 25 games. He had averaged at least 24.4 points and played in at least 58 games in each of the previous four years.

Teammate Alex Caruso expressed his sympathy for LaVine, saying, “It sucks for him, just because he just dealt with something not too long ago. You feel for him. Four to six months is real surgery.”

Unfortunately, LaVine’s injury is another tough blow for the Bulls, who have been hit hard by injuries in recent seasons. Lonzo Ball hasn’t played in an NBA game since Jan. 14, 2022, due to a left knee injury, while Patrick Williams, who was selected by the Bulls with the No. 4 pick in the 2020 draft, is out with a left foot injury.

It’s unclear what specific details surround LaVine’s surgery, and he did not speak to the media on Saturday. However, the timeline for his recovery means he could be limited at the beginning of next season as he ramps back up after regaining his health following the operation.

LaVine’s injury also puts Chicago in a bad spot ahead of Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. The Bulls carried a 23-26 record into their game against the Kings over the weekend. Caruso and DeMar DeRozan are likely to attract some interest if Chicago decides to tear down its roster. If they hold onto Caruso and DeRozan, they could bring in some help to ease the heavy load on their guards that increased with the injuries to LaVine and others.

Caruso spoke about the situation, saying, “Whatever they decide to do is kind of their decision. My job as an employee of this team is to show up and do my duty, and that’s to go out and play basketball every night.”