Echoing Billy Donovan‘s update on Sunday, Bulls president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said that Lonzo Ball is “progressing” from his left knee injury. However, as K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago writes, Karnisovas’ comments on Ball were somewhat sobering.
“He’s getting better. Probably not at the speed that we would like. But he’s getting better,” Karnisovas said of Ball. “Hopefully, he’s going to be ready for training camp. That’s just our hopes.”
Ball, who underwent surgery on a torn left meniscus in January, was bothered by a bone bruise when he attempted to ramp up his rehab process last season. According to Johnson, Ball has experienced “similar starts and stops” this offseason and still sometimes experiences discomfort when he increases his workload.
Here’s more from around the Central:
- After years of betting on himself with shorter-term contracts and team-friendly salaries, Bucks big man Bobby Portis was thrilled to be rewarded in free agency this summer with a four-year, $48MM+ deal, as he tells Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “Finally being able to have financial security for not only myself, but my family, is great,” Portis said. “To be able to go into free agency and have a number of teams call and believe that I’m special and want me to join their team, that was cool too.” Portis added that he decided to re-sign with the Bucks in part because his two years in Milwaukee have made him not only a better player but a “better man off the court.”
- New Cavaliers assistant Luke Walton spoke to Kelsey Russo of The Athletic about his decision to join J.B. Bickerstaff‘s staff in Cleveland, noting that he appreciates the level of continuity he sees in the franchise. “There’s a lot of people that are still working here that were here when I played here 10 years ago – which is rare in the NBA,” Walton said. “To me, it’s something that’s very important when you’re trying to build a winning team and a winning culture.”
- We’re still waiting to see how Deandre Ayton‘s free agency will play out, but the Pacers make a lot of sense as a potential destination for the former top pick, according to Dan Devine of The Ringer. Adding Ayton would give Tyrese Haliburton an ideal pick-and-roll partner and would put Indiana on track to quickly pivot back to respectability, Devine writes.
Guess PHX didn’t bite. IND needs to understand that most FO’s have forgotten what an offer sheet looks like. Nobody is going to panic on the threat of one. Not that scary.
Not following, but I guess your point is, nothing is changing as a result of whatever it is.
I think status quos have their reasons too, if known, usually just as interesting as the reasons for change.
Most FAs stay.
PHX needs to move on from Ayton, there’s better options out there. They should sign Kendrick Perkins out of free agency, good defender who can get gritty boards and be a team player. Better suited for the team then Ayton angways
Portis made $30million total before this contract…I think his family had financial security
Bulls need a healthy zo to contend
Ages ago when the bulls got Drummond I said he still seems good enough to be a starter and they were heavily linked with Gobert before he went to the TWolves for a very big package.
The other rumoured really big deal is Kyrie possibly going to LA. Maybe a hold up in that is AD possibly going home to Chicago.
AD, THT and a protected first for Vuce, Pat Will and Coby White.
Then Russ and whatever for Kyrie.
Lakers line up Kyrie Walker Bron Pat Will Tristan Thompson then off the bench Coby JTA Brown Johnson and Bryant. Plus guys like Christie, Pippen Jr, Reaves, Gabriel for depth.
Gives Bron a team Cappa ale of a playoff push but also looking ahead to the future by going young.
Why would the Bulls do that? AD might play half the season, then you are stuck AGAIN with an offense relying heavily on an aging DeRozan and a fragile Lavine, with a pretty old roster that cannot run, and duplicative guards that are primarily defensive. They would be better off letting Vooch leave after next season and adding AD in free agency, without losing young talent or taking on THT contract.