Just when it looked like Zach LaVine was starting to get his mojo back, he found himself injured once again. This time, a right ankle sprain will keep the two-time All-Star out for one to two weeks.
Injured Zach LaVine Out for 2 Critical Weeks
LaVine returned from a two-month absence at the beginning of January after recovering from right foot inflammation. Chicago eagerly anticipated what his return would look like, considering the team’s burst of success without him. The talented scorer pleasantly surprised many as he fit right into Chicago’s flowing, newly unselfish offense.
LaVine’s Stats in His Return
After an inefficient start to the season, LaVine’s been able to course-correct his shooting since his return. In his last five games, LaVine shot 48.7% from the field and 40.7% from three. Both of these percentages have been improvements, as his efficiency this season has been sitting at 45.2% and 34.9%, respectively.
Along with 17 points, LaVine has also averaged 5.6 assists and 6.6 rebounds in his last five games. His involvement outside of just shot-creating and scoring has steadily improved in his return.
This elevated team play from LaVine resulted from Chicago’s improved ball movement and schemes. With Coby White becoming a more-than-reliable scorer, LaVine has less pressure to get a bucket every time the ball touches his hands. The number of offensive options has allowed LaVine to shine in ways other than just shot creation.
Textbook ball movement 👏@NBCSChicago | #SeeRed pic.twitter.com/rLiojyOs8b
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 19, 2024
The Injury in Toronto
Early in the third quarter of Thursday’s game against Toronto, LaVine rolled his right ankle after stepping on Raptors forward Jontay Porter. LaVine appeared to be frustrated as he was subbed out but returned to action later in the period. The injury didn’t seem to cause much alarm until LaVine subbed out after playing barely over two minutes in the fourth.
After undergoing testing on Friday, it was confirmed that LaVine had suffered a right ankle sprain and would miss one to two weeks.
What Does This Mean for Chicago?
With the trade deadline only three weeks away, this new injury puts LaVine and the Bulls in a difficult place. LaVine has been among the most popular names in trade talks for several months, even after his first injury this season. While his value had diminished slightly, there were still plenty of teams who might have taken a swing at him before the deadline.
However, with two injuries on the season and significant missed time, teams may become more hesitant to give up much for LaVine.
These few weeks leading to the trade deadline were prime opportunities for LaVine to build his value back up and attract contending teams. He seemed to be doing just that as he returned to Chicago and thrived. But amidst these unfortunate circumstances, one can’t help but wonder if any teams would be willing to gamble on LaVine.
Chicago Might Need to Include Additional Assets to Facilitate Zach Lavine Deal
“The trade market for him around the league, sources say, is so rough that the thought is Chicago should have to add stuff in a LaVine trade to get off the contract”
(Via @DanWoikeSports) pic.twitter.com/PM40nzrYsI
— Dime Alerts (@dimealerts) January 13, 2024
The Last Word: Perception is Key
In light of LaVine’s injury, he and Chicago must have their fingers crossed regarding how the league will take this news. LaVine has the unfortunate reputation of notoriously missing significant time despite having only three seasons with 30+ games missed. The numbers don’t mean much to interested teams, though. Perception matters most, and LaVine has been perceived as an injury-prone player. So, will teams like the Lakers or Warriors offer valuable assets for a player they don’t trust to stay healthy? Time (and LaVine’s recovery process) will only tell.
