Zach LaVine’s Chicago Bulls debut is coming soon—or so it seems.
The 22-year-old shooting guard, who was acquired as the centerpiece of the Jimmy Butler trade and is slated for restricted free agency this summer, has missed the first half of the year recovering from a torn ACL. But he’s currently traveling with the team, and as relayed by the Associated Press (via USA Today), the Bulls expect to have a concrete timetable for his return in the coming days:
The Chicago Bulls hope to decide on a return date for guard Zach LaVine early next week.
LaVine will travel with the team to games at Dallas and Indiana on Friday and Saturday. Coach Fred Hoiberg says the two-time slam dunk champion will meet with doctors, trainers, management and coaches after the Bulls return home.
This news should be fairly exciting for Bulls fans. Kris Dunn has played surprisingly well this season, and rookie Lauri Markkanen has enjoyed his own moments, but LaVine was the trump card in that Butler deal—the lone prospect coming in with star potential. Finally getting the chance to see him in action, alongside his fellow youngsters, will say a great deal about the Bulls’ future.
LaVine’s return will also shape how he’s viewed entering restricted free agency. The Bulls voluntarily played a risky game by acquiring him in the first place. If he shows out for, say, one-third of the season, a rival suitor could lay down an overbid that forces Chicago to invest heavily in his future without truly knowing whether he’s a fit for the team’s window.
Then again, with cap space expected to be in short supply around the league, the Bulls needn’t worry too much. They have the right to match any contract he receives, and if LaVine plays well enough to drum up outside interest, they may only view that as an internal plus.
