Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said Zach LaVine has a “realistic” chance of returning from his sore right foot within the next week, possibly as soon as Friday’s home game against the Charlotte Hornets.
LaVine hasn’t played since November 28.
“I don’t know what the exact date’s going to be, but the way he’s progressing right now and the fact that he’s in full-fledged contact, very, very positive,” Donovan said. “I don’t know what the medical, how much data they want to see in terms of game load kind of practices that he can handle, but everything that’s been thrown at him in terms of the way he’s progressed, he’s handled really, really well.”
LaVine has appeared in 18 games this season for the Bulls. He’s averaging 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists while shooting 44.3% from the field, 33.6% from beyond the arc and 86.6% from the free-throw line.
The Bulls are 5-13 with LaVine in the lineup. They have gone 10-6 since LaVine got hurt. LaVine, 28, has a plus-minus of -98 this season, but Donovan is optimistic that LaVine will fit in well with the improved Bulls when he returns.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls Updates
“I obviously talk to him in the building pretty regularly,” Donovan said. “I think he has always been … whatever he can do to help the team has kind of been his mentality. I think the one thing that’s always a little bit different when you talk to players that have been out, it’s like you talk to them and it’s a totally different perspective when you’re sitting out looking at it from a non-competitive standpoint. When you’re not in the game and you can see the game. I think he sees how we’re playing, what we’re doing, and I think that the thing that he’d want to do is come in and contribute and enhance that and make it better.”
The Bulls signed LaVine to a five-year, $215 million contract in July 2022. LaVine is making $40 million this season. His large contract and poor play this season have made many teams second-guess whether they should trade for the UCLA product.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls Updates
The LaVine trade market is “barren” for the Bulls, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers have been heavily linked to a LaVine trade with the Bulls. Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group represents LaVine, who doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
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