- LaVine played only 25 games this year due to problems with his right foot
- All eyes will now be on the potential trade for six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan
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Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine will undergo right foot surgery and miss the remainder of the season, the team announced.
The 28-year-old decided to undergo surgery in consultation with the team and his agency Klutch Sports Group.
LaVine was initially predicted to be out of action for a week due to discomfort in his right foot.
He hasn’t played for the Bulls since January 18 due to problems with his foot and has only been on the field for 25 games this season.
The surgery is expected to sideline him for four to six months.
Zach LaVine will undergo right foot surgery and will miss the remainder of the season
LaVine had been out since Jan. 18 and previously missed 17 games due to a foot problem
The Bulls will likely hand playing time to young players like White and Dosunmu
All eyes will now be on six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan who may be traded away
Earlier this season, LaVine had missed 17 games due to a problem with his foot.
When he was on the court this season, LaVine averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
The two-time All-Star’s name had been floating around in trade rumors all season, though his surgery will likely destroy any chances he had of being shipped out of Chicago before the trade deadline.
Even before news of the surgery ended his season, a recent report from NBC stated that the Bulls may have to add another asset to any trade package that involved moving on from the two-time Slam Dunk Contest winner.
Multiple reports labeled the Detroit Pistons as having “real” interest in acquiring LaVine, and that the two teams were in trade talks about a potential blockbuster deal.
All eyes will now be on six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan, who is in the final years of his contract with Chicago and has also had his name in trade rumors all season.
Chicago currently sits in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a 23-26 record and will likely hand playing time to promising young players like Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu.