The Bulls are shutting down big man Zach Collins for the remainder of the season, the team announced (via Twitter).
Collins, who has been out with a right toe sprain, underwent further evaluation from training and medical professionals. They decided that Collins needed surgery to fix the problem.
Chicago coach Billy Donovan said earlier this month that Collins, who injured his toe on Dec. 27, might not return.
‘‘That could happen,” Donovan said. “As they put him two more weeks into the boot, I think how he comes out of that is going to tell a lot. He’s going to need a ramp-up period in order to run. . . . . The whole thing right now has been trying to prevent surgery.’
Prior to that injury, Collins missed the first six weeks of the season with a wrist injury. He wound up appearing in just 10 games this season, averaging 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds. The veeteran forward/center appeared in a total of 64 games with San Antonio and Chicago last season.
Collins will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and will likely need to take a big pay cut to stay in the league. He signed a two-year, $34.8MM extension with San Antonio during the fall of 2023.
Additionally, the Bulls announced that guard Jaden Ivey will be reevaluated in two weeks.
Ivey, who was traded by the Pistons earlier this month, is experiencing left knee soreness. He has appeared in four games since the trade, including three starts, and is averaging 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals in 28 minutes per game with Chicago.
Ivey suffered a fractured left leg midway through the 2024/25 season with Detroit and missed some time early this season due soreness in his right knee. He underwent surgery on that knee in mid-October and mentioned after receiving a DNP-CD this week that he’s still feeling some soreness.
Ivey will be a restricted free agent after the season if the Bulls issue an $8.77MM qualifying offer. If the team passes on that QO, he would be an unrestricted free agent.
At least one team isnt tanking, great move for the Bulls
They’re like 1-11 in their last 12 games. So that one win convinced you they’re not tanking? The problem is the tanking has come 3 years too late. Some say better late than never. I say better never than late.
Collins hurt his toe Dec 27. And now they decided he needs surgery. Can’t believe what any lottery team says or does today.
Thibs took over a 21-45 team. The following yr 2020-21 went 41-31. And in 5 yrs had them in the East Finals. With ONE lottery pick Obi1. Yet the Bulls tought resigning Billy Dontwin was a good idea.
I’m all for resting Ivey. Cause he is the big addition. Making sure he is right tor next year. The way this coach and GM work. You can’t trust anything they do.
big addition lol
DRose 2.0, not in any good way
His Q/O is $13.9M. I don’t see him coming back unless he accepts a lesser salary before he hits RFA. They have so many guards that he is not considered a luxury. Plus he doesn’t stand out on defense or playmaking compared to other guards on this team. He is more suited for a 6th man Lou Williams role after his injury. Shame bc I was high on him coming out of Purdue.
Just goes to show you how pitiful the team doctors really are for this team. These guys wouldn’t know how to treat a hang nail. From ruining Lonzo Ball and helping Zach LaVine on his way to being irrelevant I can think of no more scarier words than Chicago Bulls team doctor. If I saw those words in a DR’s office I would fight like a Wildcat to escape even if I was almost unconscious. I’d rather die. I have no reason to expect them to help Ivey make anything near a full recovery, If it’s even possible anymore. They should send him to a specialist now so that just maybe he has a chance to play next year. They need to match his salary at least because he can be moved at that salary easily. But that would be thinking ahead, Something these people have shown they can’t do.
Not going to pretend I know his injuries. He has never had ligament damage. Seems all this is about rehabbing and getting mentally ready. Considering the pick is important now. Best to sit him get him ready for next yr. Simons and Sexton are FA. So they could do a sign n trade or let them walk. I don’t see either coning back. All about the lottery pick now. Too bad that kid Toppin went down. He was a lottery pick.
Not gonna pretend the Bulls Drs. bothered to find out before the deal was made either.
Bulls have a lot of guards right now but after the season is over, only Giddey, Jones, Ivey and Dillingham will be under contract. So actually the Bulls won’t have so many guards. Agree the Bulls should ‘low ball’ Ivey. Agree too that before Ivey’s injuries he was great. Hope that Ivey can recover.
When isn’t Collins out.
Smart move to shut Ivey down. He clearly needs more time to get his confidence back and trust his body more. Will the bulls re-sign him??..Who knows..the kid has potential though, but it’s no use for him to be playing now while he’s still recovering from surgery. So let him rest until training camp. Don’t break the bank to bring him back, let him earn his money. Collins should be gone imo. Too injury prone for a team that needs big man depth like a starving man needs food. Management should prioritize drafting best talent available and getting a promising big man before next season starts. It’s time to really focus on the direction of this long-overdue rebuild.
Not gonna get any confidence playing for Donovan. More like an inferiority complex maybe. Was kind of hoping he wouldn’t come back from the funeral.
Ivey will be out of the league by 2027.