SUMMARY
- Chicago Bulls' star guard Zach LaVine has decided to undergo season-ending surgery on his right foot.
- LaVine has faced challenges throughout the 2023–24 NBA season, missing a significant number of games due to injuries.
Zach LaVine was the best trade prospect for the Chicago Bulls, as the team was planning to acquire some other newbie. However, the star guard succumbed to a tragic right foot injury while taking over the Boston Celtics on November 28, 2024, at the TD Garden. The Bulls trailed behind the C’s by a massive 27-point difference that night.
On top of that, LaVine could amass a minimal 2-point score, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists in his 25 minutes on the court. LaVine has merely played any games since and seems to take his own sweet time to recover from the injury scare. However, the already-trailing season might witness a blackout as Shams Charania drops this massive news.
Bulls say Zach LaVine, in consultation with team and Klutch Sports Group, has elected to undergo season-ending surgery on his right foot.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 3, 2024
According to Charania of The Athletic, Bull’s Zach LaVine has decided to go through right foot surgery. The tweet read, “Bulls say Zach LaVine, in consultation with the team and Klutch Sports Group, has elected to undergo season-ending surgery on his right foot.” The two-time NBA All-Star is expected to go through the process by February 5, and the recovery might take nearly four-six months.
It’s worth noting that the player hasn’t played a single game between November 30 and January 3, 2024. Not only that, but the 28-year-old guard has missed a plethora of games after that as well.
Zach LaVine has missed 25 games this season
The Windy City Bulls have recorded a tally of 50 games in the 2023–24 season as of late. ‘Zach Attack’, on the other hand, has clocked minutes in just 25 of these games. LaVine went M.I.A. from the hardwood in 17 games earlier this season, from November 30, 2023, to January 2024. Furthermore, he hasn’t clocked in minutes since January 18, 2024, owing to an ankle injury.
The guard rolled his right ankle while facing off the Toronto Raptors in a 116-110 victory on January 18, 2024. This is definitely a tough season for the Bulls, as the roster is suffering from an injury curse, it seems. Lonzo Ball, the backcourt hooper, hasn’t appeared in a game since January 14. Furthermore, the star forward, Patrick Williams, is also out with a foot injury.
The team is vibing to the fact that it was difficult for LaVine to manage the immense discomfort and hence opted for the surgery. However, if one observes this scenario from a broader perspective, LaVine seems to avert trade talks with this move.
Will the Chicago Bulls move Zach LaVine before the offseason?
A couple of days ago, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst claimed that ‘Machine’ is the “likeliest bull that could be dealt” before the trade deadline. The 2024 NBA trade deadline is just around the corner, and the star swingman was widely regarded as the next hot name on the trade block. However, head coach Billy Donovan has deflected any trade talks revolving around the player as of now.
The fact is that the high-flying point guard cannot make a two-way impact on the hardwood. And, given his injury-prone history this season, the teams are reluctant to acquire him as a No. 3 option. LaVine re-signed with the Bulls in July 2022 and is now riding on a contract worth $215 million.
Furthermore, he also has a player option for the 2026–2027 season. Well, that would account for a hefty amount, and that too for an injury-prone player. As the swingman deals with the season-ending injury, the trade talks seem to adopt a wait-and-see mode.