Barring unforeseen circumstances, Chicago will likely rule Ball out for the season during or after the All-Star break, the team insider said on the “Bulls Talk Podcast.” As of now, Ball still can’t run or cut properly without feeling pain.
The same problem plagued Ball in September, including difficulty climbing stairs. That month, he underwent another procedure for pain relief, making his ongoing discomfort even more concerning.
Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas told reporters last week he thought the 25-year-old was “making small improvements” health-wise. Karnišovas mentioned the team would provide an update on Ball’s health after All-Star Weekend, per Johnson’s report.
Ball, the second overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, agreed to a 4-year, $85 million deal with Chicago before last season, coming in a sign-and-trade deal with the New Orleans. In 35 games before the injury, he averaged 13 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.
After a promising start last season, the Bulls’ chances of making a deep playoff run plummeted after Ball fell. The Bulls were the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference at the time of the injury and then fell in the standings, finishing the regular season as the sixth seed.
In the first round, Chicago fell short of division rival Milwaukee, losing in five games, and its struggles have only intensified this season. With a 26-33 record, Chicago sits 11th in the East and has lost its last six games.
Second-year man Ayo Dosunmu has handled most of the playmaking duties this year, but the team will apparently explore the buyout market for an upgrade. Russell Westbrook, John Wall and Patrick Beverley are among the potential options.
While it’s unclear how the injury will further affect Ball’s career, hopefully he gets the chance to revitalize it next season.
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