Not so long ago, the Chicago Bulls were the best team in the Eastern Conference, at least record-wise.
They looked like a legit dark horse to go the distance in the playoffs, and their new additions had meshed perfectly.
Then, Lonzo Ball fell with a knee injury, and the team became a bit of a trainwreck, up to the point where some thought they were ready to blow the roster up before the trade deadline.
Now, things aren’t likely to get much better for Billy Donovan’s team, as NBA insider Shams Charania just reported that the Bulls would shut Lonzo down for the remainder of the season.
According to multiple reports, Ball could never shake off the pain and discomfort in his injured knee, going through multiple setbacks in the process.
The Chicago Bulls are expected to shut down guard Lonzo Ball for the remainder of the season, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Pain and discomfort have persisted in Ball’s left knee following two surgeries at the beginning and end of 2022.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 21, 2023
Doctors reportedly cannot explain why the former second-overall pick is still in pain, and there was never an actual timetable for his return.
Ball signed a four-year contract with the Bulls, yet he wasn’t able to even finish one season with the organization.
He’s the kind of pass-first playmaker they craved to take those duties away from DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, not to mention he was great in the pick-and-roll with big man Nikola Vucevic.
All things considered, the Bulls might be forced to dig deep in the market for another pure point guard in the offseason, as Lonzo might never be the same player again, even if he’s able to be back at some point next season.
NEXT: Patrick Beverley Has Reportedly Made His Free Agent Decision
