Zach likely out until after All-Star break--KC

[fleet]

Who have the Bulls rushed back? I'll wait...

the only guy I can think of, cleared by doctors, but actually he got permission to be 110%, and to return with a comfortable pillow.

I'm not interested in bringing back the old argument. There are many that share your thoughts. But to counterpoint (And I'll leave it at that.)

While I (and some others) think when Rose did get back it proved how unready he was. It may have been mental (probably was) but that is a part of a person and a legit reason. He wouldn't have helped at all had he returned.

Mostly referring to the comment about Bulls rushing back players as a problem with organization. Not really. The last situation as Duck said, they bent over backwards for a guy to get his head screwed straight.

[Macallan]

Can we please pick up Gary Harris now? Bulls will need another competent shooter/scorer if Zach is out for any length of time or needs maintenance games down the stretch.

Is he bought out yet?

Yeah, seems like that speculation was premature. I haven't seen his name amongst those clearing waivers post-buyouts.

[Wingy]

Who have the Bulls rushed back? I'll wait...

the only guy I can think of, cleared by doctors, but actually he got permission to be 110%, and to return with a comfortable pillow.

Deng. He’s the only example of the Bulls rushing someone back, but it’s a pretty extreme example a bad look for the franchise. At least back then. Not sure how much it really means today after we went 180 degrees the other way with Rose.

What about when Noah was rushed back on to the court within minutes? Letting him play on that, I think ankle, was absolutely bonkers. Took about 1.5 seconds for the average person to see that was a bad choice.

[umfan83]

wow this is tough. He's a great dude, he's a hard worker and he wants to be here

but a 5 year max $$ and this injury history just seem like a recipe for disaster.

there will be a new TV contract and maybe we'll get more cap space.
we have ayo and williams on the cheap for a few more years.

tough call for AK.
I wonder what other teams will be offering....

Not really a tough call IMO. He does have a checkered injury history but other than the notable exception of the ACL tear which was what 6 years ago he's played pretty consistently and his injuries are more of a bumps and bruises variety. In the COVID year he played 60 of the 65 games. Last year he missed 14 games, 13 of them being due to COVID and sitting the last 2 games of the season (forget why). This year he's missed now 12 games, 5 of them due to COVID. You don't just let a 26 year old who has made the last 2 all star games go because he's missed some games here and there. You max him out and live with the occasional bumps and bruises.

[d boy gentleman]

Who have the Bulls rushed back? I'll wait...

the only guy I can think of, cleared by doctors, but actually he got permission to be 110%, and to return with a comfortable pillow.

Deng. He’s the only example of the Bulls rushing someone back, but it’s a pretty extreme example a bad look for the franchise. At least back then. Not sure how much it really means today after we went 180 degrees the other way with Rose.

That was the GarPax regime and doctors. All of those guys are gone. I want to know when during this regime has this happened?

[umfan83]

the only guy I can think of, cleared by doctors, but actually he got permission to be 110%, and to return with a comfortable pillow.

Deng. He’s the only example of the Bulls rushing someone back, but it’s a pretty extreme example a bad look for the franchise. At least back then. Not sure how much it really means today after we went 180 degrees the other way with Rose.

That was the GarPax regime and doctors. All of those guys are gone. I want to know when during this regime has this happened?

Just a few days ago Ayo played with an undiagnosed concussion. But yeah I don't know about too many examples during AKME's tenure but there is some continuity from the previous regime with Chip Schaefer. I honestly don't know his role and how it relates to injury diagnosis and clearing. It says he's a performance trainer so maybe that's not even his realm.

[d boy gentleman]

Deng. He’s the only example of the Bulls rushing someone back, but it’s a pretty extreme example a bad look for the franchise. At least back then. Not sure how much it really means today after we went 180 degrees the other way with Rose.

That was the GarPax regime and doctors. All of those guys are gone. I want to know when during this regime has this happened?

Just a few days ago Ayo played with an undiagnosed concussion. But yeah I don't know about too many examples during AKME's tenure but there is some continuity from the previous regime with Chip Schaefer. I honestly don't know his role and how it relates to injury diagnosis and clearing. It says he's a performance trainer so maybe that's not even his realm.

Chip Schaefer's been around from the Jordan years. I think he left and then came back after a while. Might be wrong about that one...

[umfan83]

That was the GarPax regime and doctors. All of those guys are gone. I want to know when during this regime has this happened?

Just a few days ago Ayo played with an undiagnosed concussion. But yeah I don't know about too many examples during AKME's tenure but there is some continuity from the previous regime with Chip Schaefer. I honestly don't know his role and how it relates to injury diagnosis and clearing. It says he's a performance trainer so maybe that's not even his realm.

Chip Schaefer's been around from the Jordan years. I think he left and then came back after a while. Might be wrong about that one...

Yeah he went to the Lakers after the dynasty ended but came back in 2016-2017.

[MrSparkle]

Well, I hope he gets a 2nd MRI, a 2nd opinion, and whatever's going on is properly diagnosed.

Lonzo was playing at a clearly worse level, and turned out he had a torn meniscus. Who knows if was already torn or if it actually got worse from playing on it. Zach got the MRI 1 month ago and played several games since, so it's entirely possible he developed a partial tear. Dude should definitely not play in the ASG unless he gets a squeaky clean MRI and it's just "general knee soreness.

I'm really hoping for Schroder and/or Bembry. The two healthiest guys.

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

Would’ve been nice if BD was coaching. Could bring Zach along to just hangout and not really participate in anything.

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

Well, I hope he gets a 2nd MRI, a 2nd opinion, and whatever's going on is properly diagnosed.

Lonzo was playing at a clearly worse level, and turned out he had a torn meniscus. Who knows if was already torn or if it actually got worse from playing on it. Zach got the MRI 1 month ago and played several games since, so it's entirely possible he developed a partial tear. Dude should definitely not play in the ASG unless he gets a squeaky clean MRI and it's just "general knee soreness.

I'm really hoping for Schroder and/or Bembry. The two healthiest guys.

Knees soreness can be very ambiguous though. I would often get sore knees from games but woild take rest sometime and it would feel better. He doesn’t really have the luxury of taking a week off like normal folks. Probably should skip the ASG and rack up 10+ days of rest

[dougthonus]

I'm sure Zach won't go nuts in the all-star game. This is a jog around and dunk / shoot 3s type competition not a serious effort.

The news overall on Zach's knee is obviously concerning though and concerning long term.

He's missed a good chunk of time every year since his ACL, and we've generally tossed it up to "we're tanking" but I think there is certainly some longevity concern here. Not that it changes anything except making you worry more because you're still going to pay him.

[FriedRise]

Is there a concern that he had to fly all the way to LA to see a specialist? We don't have anyone like that on the team and/or in Chicago?

To put it more bluntly, do AKME need to revamp the revamped medical and training staff?

[DuckIII]

the only guy I can think of, cleared by doctors, but actually he got permission to be 110%, and to return with a comfortable pillow.

Deng. He’s the only example of the Bulls rushing someone back, but it’s a pretty extreme example a bad look for the franchise. At least back then. Not sure how much it really means today after we went 180 degrees the other way with Rose.

That was the GarPax regime and doctors. All of those guys are gone. I want to know when during this regime has this happened?

Never so far as I know.

[fleet]

Is there a concern that he had to fly all the way to LA to see a specialist? We don't have anyone like that on the team and/or in Chicago?

To put it more bluntly, do AKME need to revamp the revamped medical and training staff?

Its probably a second opinion with a favorite doc. He obviously has a condition of concern as far as best approach to the problem

[Dieselbound&Down]

I feel like BD is too much of a players coach.

Zach and DJJ both returned earlier than they should have and according to them it was their decision to do so.

BD wouldn't offer that to the players unless the medical staff told him they ok to return.

[umfan83]

I'm sure Zach won't go nuts in the all-star game. This is a jog around and dunk / shoot 3s type competition not a serious effort.

The news overall on Zach's knee is obviously concerning though and concerning long term.

He's missed a good chunk of time every year since his ACL, and we've generally tossed it up to "we're tanking" but I think there is certainly some longevity concern here. Not that it changes anything except making you worry more because you're still going to pay him.

I mentioned this above but I am not seeing the big chunks of time missed. In 2020 he missed 5 out of 65 games. In 2021 he missed 14 games but 11 of them were due to COVID (I think) and then he missed 2 meaningless games at the end of the season. This year he'll have missed 12 games including the last 2, but 5 of them were also COVID related.

So we're looking at 13 games missed due to non-COVID injuries over the last 3 seasons. I might be missing something, I have to be honest and admit I didn't follow the Bulls super closely the last couple of years...knew what was going on day to day but I wasn't too emotionally invested (GarPax + little kids = rearranging priorities).

[kodo]

Is there a concern that he had to fly all the way to LA to see a specialist? We don't have anyone like that on the team and/or in Chicago?

To put it more bluntly, do AKME need to revamp the revamped medical and training staff?

That's exactly how it should be done, you get the best in the world not the best at the United Center.

One of the reasons Lebron & Kobe had such longevity was they didn't just use the team trainers and sought out the best in the world period, not just the best sports guys. My brother worked for a clinic that Kobe went to, he was getting treatment in Germany that wasn't legal in the US.

[fleet]

I'm sure Zach won't go nuts in the all-star game. This is a jog around and dunk / shoot 3s type competition not a serious effort.

The news overall on Zach's knee is obviously concerning though and concerning long term.

He's missed a good chunk of time every year since his ACL, and we've generally tossed it up to "we're tanking" but I think there is certainly some longevity concern here. Not that it changes anything except making you worry more because you're still going to pay him.

I mentioned this above but I am not seeing the big chunks of time missed. In 2020 he missed 5 out of 65 games. In 2021 he missed 14 games but 11 of them were due to COVID (I think) and then he missed 2 meaningless games at the end of the season. This year he'll have missed 12 games including the last 2, but 5 of them were also COVID related.

So we're looking at 13 games missed due to non-COVID injuries over the last 3 seasons. I might be missing something, I have to be honest and admit I didn't follow the Bulls super closely the last couple of years...knew what was going on day to day but I wasn't too emotionally invested (GarPax + little kids = rearranging priorities).

Just spitballing here. We have the specific statement ‘no structural damage’. That means there is either a new issue, or an old issue they figured was just wear and tear, but something he can perhaps play with without further problems or making it worse. What has prompted the LA consultation is the question. Safe to assume the best case scenario was missed as far as putting it behind him completely.

[dougthonus]

I'm sure Zach won't go nuts in the all-star game. This is a jog around and dunk / shoot 3s type competition not a serious effort.

The news overall on Zach's knee is obviously concerning though and concerning long term.

He's missed a good chunk of time every year since his ACL, and we've generally tossed it up to "we're tanking" but I think there is certainly some longevity concern here. Not that it changes anything except making you worry more because you're still going to pay him.

I mentioned this above but I am not seeing the big chunks of time missed. In 2020 he missed 5 out of 65 games. In 2021 he missed 14 games but 11 of them were due to COVID (I think) and then he missed 2 meaningless games at the end of the season. This year he'll have missed 12 games including the last 2, but 5 of them were also COVID related.

So we're looking at 13 games missed due to non-COVID injuries over the last 3 seasons. I might be missing something, I have to be honest and admit I didn't follow the Bulls super closely the last couple of years...knew what was going on day to day but I wasn't too emotionally invested (GarPax + little kids = rearranging priorities).

Fair point, must have just hit me worse in my head than reality.