{"id":81611,"date":"2022-09-29T10:07:15","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T10:07:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/chicago-bulls-lonzo-ball-to-have-third-knee-surgery\/"},"modified":"2022-09-29T10:07:15","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T10:07:15","slug":"chicago-bulls-lonzo-ball-to-have-third-knee-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/chicago-bulls-lonzo-ball-to-have-third-knee-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Bulls’ Lonzo Ball to have third knee surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Lonzo Ball needs another procedure<\/figcaption>
Image: Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The ideal version of this Chicago Bulls roster<\/span> \u2014 the one that started last season 27-11 and featured three wing-sized guys on the perimeter that played defense, scored, and shared the ball \u2014 is like so many teams whose bright future hinged upon versions of players that no longer exist. Whether via injury, age, or otherwise, there was a version of the James Harden era Brooklyn Nets that we only saw for like 20 games, the LeBron Lakers have been an \u201cif healthy\u201d team for so long that they qualify, and Denver is in the queue until Jamal Murray looks like himself again. <\/p>\n

It’s fair to say after the latest news about Lonzo Ball’s left knee that we may not see whatever the 2021-22 Bulls were supposed to be. The sixth-year guard missed the second half of last season after getting surgery to repair a meniscus injury, and this week announced the docs are opening up his knee again<\/span> to see what’s going on because he still \u201ccan’t run or jump.\u201d <\/p>\n

This is how Ball described the upcoming procedure. <\/p>\n

\u201cFrom my understanding they’re going in there to see what it is, because it’s not necessarily showing up on the MRI, but it’s clear that there’s something there that’s not right. So they’re going to go in, look at it, and whatever needs to be done is going to be done.\u201d<\/p>\n

So there’s not really a plan. It’s more of a fix that tendon when they see it situation, and the team says he’ll be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks, but neither wants to put a timetable on it. Probably because they can’t because they don’t know what’s wrong with Ball’s left knee that’s about to undergo its third surgery. <\/p>\n

The NBA season tips off in three weeks and now Chicago will have to begin the year with largely the same core that finished last year’s campaign in an underwhelming fashion. While Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams were on the mend for large chunks a year ago and should be back to their role-player ways, Ball was brought in to be one of the focal points of this team.<\/p>\n

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Folds away, which is huge for your quality of life, has an adjustable seat and back to make sure you’re comfortable, and is made to be incredible heavy-duty so you can lift without worry. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

He’s not an iso-heavy player the way we typically view all-stars, and that’s exactly why his skill set is immensely valuable to this team. He’s got a great feel for the game on offense and defense, facilitates without dominating the ball, and finally seemed to have corrected his shooting stroke. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are apt passers out of their offense, but they’re not playmakers. Ball’s ability to get his backcourt mates, as well as Nikola Vucevic and whoever’s occupying the four, the ball in favorable positions on the court within the flow of an offense was critical to the way the organization wanted to play. <\/p>\n

Chicago finished last year 19-23 (20-27 if you count the gentleman’s sweep at the hands of the Bucks in the first round) without Lonzo, and will have to tread water until fully healthy to stay in contention for a playoff berth. Charlotte earned the final play-in spot in the East a season ago with a 43-39 record, and the conference looks to be just as competitive this year. Any mark below .500 risks missing the play-in, and there’s not a lot of evidence this team can stay above water without all its limbs in working order.<\/p>\n

The Bulls’ front office gave LaVine a five-year $215 million contract<\/span> over the offseason, and that was about the extent of the spending unless you count adding the corpses of Goran Dragic and Andre Drummond as moves. The LaVine deal does fall under the category of \u201cspending\u201d for an organization that’s fearful of handing out big contracts because of scenarios like the one it’s currently facing, and that primarily sucks for Bulls fans. <\/p>\n

They finally rid themselves of the frightfully woeful GarPax era, and the new regime showed promise. New basketball ops head man Art\u016bras Karni\u0161ovas brought in Ball and DeRozan, drafted well, and filled out the rest of the roster with contributors. DeRozan was thought to be the gamble, not Ball, and until the injury, Chicago was on its way to home-court in the first round if not through the Eastern Conference Finals. <\/p>\n

Who knows if we’ll ever see the true potential of this iteration of the Bulls, the one that basketball junkies fawned over less than a year ago, and there’s nothing left to do other than let the will of the fates run its course. <\/p>\n

Once L.a. didn’t work out the way his father predicted it would, Lonzo became a sympathetic figure. He showed self-awareness when he clowned the Big Baller Brand, spoke about his upbringing, and toiled away in New Orleans fixing his jumper. Last year would’ve been his first as an all-star, and it does n’t sound like it’s going to happen in 2022 either. Whether we ever see the best version of this Bulls team is in serious doubt, but hopefully, we still have yet to witness Ball’s best self. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lonzo Ball needs another procedureImage: Getty Images The ideal version of this Chicago Bulls roster \u2014 the one that started last season 27-11 and featured three wing-sized guys on the perimeter that played defense, scored, and shared the ball \u2014 is like so many teams whose bright future hinged upon versions of players that no …<\/p>\n

Chicago Bulls’ Lonzo Ball to have third knee surgery<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[6],"tags":[27378,27372,12232,378,1466,3850,27373,27379,27375,5917,27370,1655,68,27377,27376,6540,307,27371,27374,3848,1467],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":64272,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/chicago-bulls-lonzo-ball-expected-to-miss-training-camp-doubtful-for-start-of-nba-season-sources-say\/","url_meta":{"origin":81611,"position":0},"title":"Chicago Bulls’ Lonzo Ball expected to miss training camp, doubtful for start of NBA season, sources say","date":"September 2, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"5:40 PM ETJamal CollierRamona ShelburneCloseESPN Senior WriterSenior writer for ESPN.comSpent seven years at the Los Angeles Daily NewsCHICAGO -- Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is expected to miss training camp and is doubtful for the start of the regular season because of lingering pain and discomfort following meniscus surgery on his\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":79960,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/chicago-bulls-lonzo-ball-cant-run-jump-without-pain-as-2nd-knee-surgery-of-2022-looms\/","url_meta":{"origin":81611,"position":1},"title":"Chicago Bulls’ Lonzo Ball can’t run, jump without pain as 2nd knee surgery of 2022 looms","date":"September 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"2:21 PM ETJamal CollierESPN CHICAGO -- After spending the summer rehabbing in Los Angeles and seeking different opinions from knee specialists, Bulls guard Lonzo Ball said he still can't run or jump without feeling pain in his left knee, which is why he is scheduled to undergo another arthroscopic knee\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":82776,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/chicago-bulls-optimistic-after-lonzo-balls-knee-surgery-went-well-but-uncertain-when-he-will-return\/","url_meta":{"origin":81611,"position":2},"title":"Chicago Bulls optimistic after Lonzo Ball’s knee surgery ‘went well’ but uncertain when he will return","date":"September 30, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"5:10 PM ETJamal CollierESPN CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bulls expressed optimism on Thursday following guard Lonzo Ball's latest surgery to address the lingering discomfort in his left knee, but his timeline to return to the court remains uncertain.Bulls coach Billy Donovan met with director of athletic performance Chip Schaefer, who\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":79919,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/even-the-doctors-are-a-bit-surprised\/","url_meta":{"origin":81611,"position":3},"title":"‘Even the doctors are a bit surprised’","date":"September 27, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Lonzo Ball is still struggling with his injured knee. (Photo by Stacy Revere\/Getty Images)Lonzo Ball was a revelation with the Chicago Bulls last season. He played a pivotal role in the team getting out to a hot start, proving to be a strong defensive player and an adept passer. Then,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":74479,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/bulls-guard-lonzo-ball-to-undergo-another-knee-procedure-out-4-6-weeks\/","url_meta":{"origin":81611,"position":4},"title":"Bulls guard Lonzo Ball to undergo another knee procedure, out 4-6 weeks","date":"September 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Lonzo Ball is headed in for another knee procedure.The Chicago Bulls star will undergo an arthroscopic debridement on his left knee next week in Los Angeles, the team announced on Wednesday. He will be sidelined for the next four-to-six weeks, meaning he'll miss training camp and the start of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1331,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/chicago-bulls-zach-lavine-agree-to-5-year-215m-max-contract-extension\/","url_meta":{"origin":81611,"position":5},"title":"Chicago Bulls, Zach LaVine agree to 5-year, $215M max contract extension","date":"July 1, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The Chicago Bulls and Zach LaVine have agreed to a five-year, $215 million max contract extension, Klutch Sports announced Friday.LaVine, 27, has blossomed into a two-time All-Star in Chicago, where he arrived in the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017, and -- along with DeMar\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.kinja-img.com\/gawker-media\/image\/upload\/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_675,pg_1,q_80,w_1200\/ac71861d1b17954a940d958b4322cadd.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81611"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81611"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81611\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81611"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81611"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}