Bulls expect to have LaVine after all-star break
The Bulls expect Zach LaVine to be back on the court after the all-star break.
LaVine flew out to Los Angeles to get his sore left knee checked out. Before Wednesday's game against Sacramento, Bulls coach Billy Donovan said the doctor drained some fluid and injected a lubricant designed to help the knee function.
"I think right now the doctors feel totally fine with him resuming playing," Donovan said. "I think Zach felt very good about the meeting, felt like it went really well, just based on some of the interventions, some of the things they did during his visit.
"He's probably going to be 48 hours before he can do any activity, really. He should be able to resume activity after that."
LaVine visited the doctor that performed the ACL surgery on his left knee in 2017, a few months before he was traded to the Bulls. Donovan said the Bulls' medical staff was also represented.
"I think they felt really good about the way the meeting went," Donovan said. "I spoke to (LaVine) late morning, early afternoon, he was in really good spirits and felt like it was a really good visit and feels, I think, in a good place mentally. He'll be ready to go."
The Bulls will have a week off before resuming next Thursday at home against Atlanta. LaVine missed the last three games with the knee issue and also sat out five games in late January for the same reason.
ASG in question:
Another question to be resolved is whether Zach LaVine will take part in Sunday's All-Star Game in Cleveland. He was named an all-star reserve for the second straight year and is also scheduled to participate in the 3-point contest for the third time.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan felt LaVine participating in the All-Star Game was a possibility, considering it's not as strenuous as a regular NBA game and the playing time could be limited.
"He would be eligible to do that physically," Donovan said. "I think probably some consultation with our doctors, his doctor they went to see in LA. There may be something of like, 'Hey, this is a wise choice on number of minutes or things like that.' I don't think Zach has any expectation to try to go through an All-Star Game and try to play 30 minutes.
"But certainly it's a great honor for him to be able to do that in the second year. He is healthy to play. When the season resumes, we expect to have him back. There will probably definitely be some managing, looking at back-to-backs, how he's feeling and those kind of things. The All-Star Game, I don't have all the details of what that would look like, but he would be cleared to participate in that."
Caruso gets closer:
Coach Billy Donovan said guard Alex Caruso, out since Jan. 21 with a broken right wrist, should be able to resume basketball activities after the break.
"He's doing well, he's on the floor doing total conditioning and running," Donovan said. "He's not able to lift, there will be a point I think in maybe a week to 10 days, he can start dribbling and shooting. He's not at that level yet, but he's at the level that he can really do a lot of physical training running-wise."
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