The Chicago Bulls fans may see the return of their star shooting guard, Zach LaVine, who has been off the court since November 28 due to right foot inflammation. Bulls coach Billy Donovan provided a positive update on LaVine’s recovery, suggesting that he could return as soon as Friday against the Charlotte Hornets.
LaVine has missed 17 consecutive games, including the recent one against the New York Knicks. During his time off the court, there are a lot of trade rumors sparking debates about his future with the Bulls. However, Coach Donovan is optimistic about LaVine’s return to the starting lineup.
Zach LaVine (foot) could return Friday.
— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) January 4, 2024
“I think he wants to help the group as much as he can,” Donovan said. “I think I’ve said this before, I don’t think it’s necessarily so much that he has to change his game. It’s what he does really, really well, can he bring that to the table for us?”
Billy Donovan says Zach LaVine continues to progress without any setbacks and that Friday against Charlotte continues to be a possibility for his first game on the court since Nov. 30.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) January 4, 2024
Before his injury, LaVine averaged 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, shooting at 44.3%. Despite this being his lowest scoring average since the 2017-18 season, he remains the Bulls’ second-leading scorer behind DeMar DeRozan.
NBA insider reveals there is no market for Zach LaVine
As the NBA trade deadline comes closer, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine is in a challenging situation. Despite earlier openness from LaVine and the Bulls regarding a potential trade, NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reports that there currently seems no market interest in the star guard.
Wojnarowski highlighted two major factors that are affecting LaVine’s chances of getting traded. The first is that LaVine needs to show that he is healthy and capable of having a positive impact on the game, a challenge complicated by the team’s improved performance in his absence. Second, teams thinking about acquiring LaVine face a challenge due to his large deal, which is just under $200 million.
“There’s no market for Zach LaVine right now,” Wojnarowski stated, suggesting that even if LaVine’s performance improves, the chances of a trade remain uncertain. This situation leaves the Bulls in a challenging position, as they might struggle to receive fair value in any potential deal involving LaVine.
Contrary to some rumors, Wojnarowski highlighted that the Bulls are not considering a complete team restructure and are committed to being competitive. His return to the court could either strengthen the Bulls’ lineup or possibly spark trade interests, depending on how the situation develops in the coming weeks.