SUMMARY
- Zach LaVine's right ankle sprain during a game against the Raptors disrupts the Chicago Bulls' trade aspirations.
- The severity of the injury raises concerns about LaVine's playing status.
The Chicago Bulls were pretending to have an ace up their sleeve, and that was Zach LaVine. A lot of NBA franchises were indeed desperately eyeing Zach LaVine. Not only that, teams like the Los Angeles Lakers were waiting to plan the exchange trade once the Bulls quoted a price. However, the guard might have to take some time off the court after the last game.
The Chicago Bulls were up against the Toronto Raptors on January 18, 2024, at the Scotiabank Arena. It was in the third quarter of the game that LaVine sustained an injury to his right ankle. Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, the star guard is dealing with a right ankle sprain. The 28-year-old stepped on Jontay Porter’s foot while driving towards the basket. This is when he rolled his right ankle and sprained it.
Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine is expected to miss at least one-to-two weeks with a right ankle sprain, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. LaVine underwent testing Friday suffering the injury in Thursday night’s win over Toronto and attempting to play through the sprain. pic.twitter.com/kxxSsAkfbU
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 19, 2024
Although the high-flying man tried to push through and made a short appearance in the fourth quarter, the pain was excruciating. LaVine then decided to finish the night with a season-low of 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. The Bulls, however, managed to secure a win with a 6-point lead over the Raptors. This news doesn’t sound merry for his value as a player, as he might have to miss one-to-two weeks to recover.
With such a delayed trade timeline, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers seem unlikely as trade destinations. The Bulls are hoping for the injury to heal quickly, as their star player is on the trade block. This blow has come after the star made a return to the hardwood after a prolonged absence.
How many games has Zach Lavine missed this season?
Per Statmuse, LaVine has only played 25 of the 43 games in the 2023–2024 season. Because of this, his scoring has witnessed a steep dip. The two-time NBA All-Star is averaging 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 45.2% shooting from the deep. This low score is now pointing towards the fact that LaVine’s scoring has taken a dip since the 2020–21 season.
Zach LaVine has already missed 17 games this season because of inflammation in his right foot. Apart from this, he was also listed out of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 22, 2023. Hence, LaVine has missed 18 games in the 2023–24 season. LaVine recorded minutes in seven games after returning to the hardwood, and the roster won five of them.
Now that the star player is down again, the roster has to manage future wins. The Chicago Bulls are seeded No. 9 in the Eastern Conference; however, a losing streak without LaVine could set them back.