Chicago Bulls GM’s update on Lonzo Ball lacks confidence

Despite trade rumors that suggested that the Chicago Bulls may package the 18th overall selection in the 2022 NBA Draft with Coby White or a larger deal involving Patrick Williams as part of ,a trade for an All-Star such as Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz, the Bulls actually held onto the selection and chose University of Arizona guard Dalen Terry.

Looking past the surprise of the Bulls actually holding onto the selection, it was even more of a surprise that the Bulls selected a guard. More specifically, Terry projects as a point guard in the NBA.

Not factoring in Terry, it would appear that the Bulls are already set at the point guard position as the team currently has Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and Coby White on the roster.

The selection of Terry certainly would seem to suggest that White may be available in a trade this summer but it does also suggest that the Bulls might be preparing for life without Ball.

Ball, who the Bulls acquired in a sign-and-trade with the New Orleans Pelicans last summer, was only limited to 35 games during his first season with the Bulls due to a torn meniscus injury he suffered in his left knee in January.

At the time of the injury, the initial expectation was that Ball would return to the team before the end of the regular season but the 24-year old ultimately missed the rest of the season.

While speaking with reporters yesterday after making the selection of Terry, Bulls’ general manager provided a vague update on Ball.

"“Currently working out in LA, still doing his rehab,” Eversley said Thursday night of Ball’s offseason location in Los Angeles. “We have sent our performance staff to see him every week and track his progress. All reports are good. He’s making progress.”"

The concern, however, is that Ball is primarily working with his own training staff and the Bulls’ staff appears to be there for observance purposes.

The Chicago Bulls don’t seem to be in the loop when it comes to Lonzo Ball.

It is clear that Eversley is not really sure what the status of Ball will be when the Bulls begin training camp in September. The disconnect between the Bulls and Ball’s camp likely stems from the comments that Ball’s father, LaVar, made earlier this year when discussing how the team was handling the guard’s rehab.

"“After they do the surgery on his leg, I’m looking and I’m like ‘yo, they’ve got him running and stuff too fast.’ It was too early for him to do that,” LaVar said. “He should’ve been doing some pool therapy instead of the treadmill or the running he was doing — that’s wrong.”"

It goes without saying that the Bulls need to get on the same page in regards to Ball. He is one of the most important pieces to the plan of the Bulls’ front office.

The front office needs to have a full understanding of the status of Ball and how healthy his left knee is. Eversley’s words on Thursday offered little confidence in the health status of Ball as the team embarks on the offseason.