The Chicago Bulls have been rolling lately. After a 5-14 start to the season, they’ve gone 9-4, pushing them back into the Play-In Tournament picture. However, the most interesting part of their success has been the absence of Zach LaVine. Chicago is just 5-13 this season with LaVine, but without him, they are 9-5.
Those two records may not be directly related, but the fact is, the Bulls have played better without LaVine than with him. LaVine has quickly turned into one of the most common names on the trade block, but before a trade occurs, he’ll likely have to get healthy (or at least close to it).
Bulls head coach Billy Donovan recently provided an injury update on LaVine.
“I think there’s going to be a steady increase on what he’s doing,” Donovan said via NBC Sports Chicago. “Everything up to this point that he’s had to go through, he’s done a great job and the medical guys have done a great job. It feels like he’s progressing at the right state.”
That said, despite LaVine’s progress still comes with the next step of a planned out return-to-action process.
“Even if he passes that part of it—and I’m not sure how many days of cutting it will be—it’s going to be more loads and more intensity,” Donovan said. “A lot of it for him right now is going to be structured, where it’s ‘cut here and cut here.’ The next step after that would be to have him start randomly cutting and moving without it being a directional workout.”
The Bulls’ success without LaVine isn’t a coincidence, and as he returns to health, it will be interesting to see how the trade market takes shape.
