The fact that the Chicago Bulls will not have a Lonzo Ball team throughout the 2023-24 season was finally decided Thursday night in the NBA Draft. Artūras Karnišovas, Chicago’s president of basketball operations, confirmed that the team does not expect to play ball this next season.
Karnishovas: “With the off-season under way, I think our expectation is that he won’t be back next season and will continue his recovery” He said. “If he comes back, that would be great. But we’ll deal with this off-season and prepare for the season that he won’t come back next season.”
The news is certainly heartbreaking for Taurus, but it didn’t come as a surprise. Paul underwent a third surgery on his left knee in March—this time a cartilage transplant—that many believed would rule him out for most or all of the next season. Paul was reportedly unable to run or jump after his second surgery last September, which likely led him to undergo a third operation.
He hasn’t played basketball since January 14, 2022, when he tore his meniscus and required surgery. The Bulls shut the ball down for the rest of the 2021-2022 season after just 35 games. He averaged 13 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists during his first season with Chicago after four years and an $80 million signing and trade with the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Bulls will have to take the ball off the ball again this year with a lot of questions surrounding the team. Commercial speculation about Zach LaVine will almost certainly resume, especially after reports surfaced last December that LaVine wasn’t getting along with the team’s front office or fellow superstar DeMar DeRozan.
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