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The Chicago Bulls are looking toward the future, and new shooting guard Zach LaVine figures to be a big part of that plan. When he can return to the court from the knee surgery that ended his 2016-17 campaign in February remains the question.
However, the Bulls got some good news on Monday in that LaVine could soon be cleared for contact drills in the next few weeks. K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune has more on LaVine’s recovery, his timeline and more:
LaVine reiterated Monday that he’s feeling great. He’s ahead of schedule and pushing at every opportunity to move up the nine-month timeline to be cleared for contact.
And the centerpiece of the Bulls’ rebuild understands why doctors and the team aren’t budging on that timeline.
“I should be doing contact really soon. It all depends on them,” LaVine said, addressing reporters for the first time since media day on Sept. 25. “I’m pushing them as hard as I can. But at the end of the day, we’ve still got to be careful.
“I feel great. I’m doing everything I was doing before. I’m pretty sure I can do contact. But we’ve got to stick to that schedule.”
Underscoring how close that schedule is, coach Fred Hoiberg said LaVine will be cleared for minor contact “probably in the next two weeks” and full contact in “probably three weeks.” That’s almost exactly nine months after LaVine’s Feb. 14 surgery to repair his left anterior cruciate ligament, which he tore Feb. 3 while playing for the Timberwolves.
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“I don’t like missing games,” LaVine said. “It really sucks just sitting there, not being able to help. I try to help as much as I can from the sideline, give a little advice here or there. But, yeah, it hurts.”
LaVine, who missed five games as a rookie and none his second season, is fully engaged in practice. He participates in five-on-zero situations, watches during contact drills and scrimmages and even traveled to the season opener in Toronto for workouts, a rarity.
Johnson also reports that although the Bulls missed the deadline to offer LaVine a contract extension, they plan to re-sign him or match any offers he might receive next summer as a restricted free agent.
