There has been some progress made for Lonzo Ball and his injured right wrist, just not a definitive timetable.
That has to be good enough for now.
According to Bulls coach Billy Donovan on Monday, Ball no longer has to wear the brace he was in, and will start dribbling a basketball within the next few days. How he comes out of that will give the team some clarity on a possible return schedule.
“I think it’s at the point now where he can get the brace off and start to do some stuff, see how he responds,” Donovan said of his point guard. “I do think he has some soreness, but certainly it’s been a slow progression for him but he has gotten better.”
Ball, who missed over two-and-a-half years in the wake of three left knee surgeries, was up and running for the start of this season, despite having a minutes restriction to work around.
In the fourth game of the season – Ball’s third – he fell back and caught his weight on the wrist, however. The original diagnosis was a sprain that was to be re-evaluated in a 10-day window, but when that window came and went, Donovan revealed that they “dodged a bullet” with the injury and if Ball continued playing with it there was a scenario where it could have gotten to the point of the same season-ending surgery that Patrick Williams dealt with back in 2021.
That’s why they want to be cautious with it, and especially when it comes to Ball.
“Because the injury is somewhat unique from the perspective of we don’t want to do anything that sets him back, they’ll be cautious there,” Donovan said. “I’d say the first week was slow with the healing and the pain, but I think now he’s starting to feel better and better, and we’ve had some good upward ticks. There’s been no setbacks.”
Despite playing in only three games, Ball was flashing some of the skills that made him an instant hit with the 2021-22 Bulls roster. His return will help Donovan’s second unit, but the bigger picture is it will help Ball’s career. He will be a free agent at the end of the season, and if he can get some more consistent minutes under his belt that will not only help him with his next contract, but even sooner.
The Bulls have been looking to move players since the summer, and that includes Ball and his expiring contract if the opportunity presents itself.
Played out
The Bulls went winless in the group stage of the NBA Cup in-season tournament last year, and with the 2024 Cup group stage starting next week the hope is there’s better results.
“We talk about it and I think the league is trying to make it something that is a priority right now,” Donovan said. “I think everyone is trying to put their best foot forward. The big part for me is if you get to a place where you’re going to Vegas (for the quarterfinal round). I think that’s probably where it gets magnified.”
Protein shakes
Besides fighting for minutes and a spot in the rotation, rookie Matas Buzelis is fighting to get stronger. The 11th overall pick from the June draft said that he’s been “adjusting my routine” since the regular season started, and that’s included intrasquad scrimmages after shootarounds and of course the weight room.
“I think the weightroom has been pretty extensive for him,” Donovan said. “I don’t know what his body type is as far as how much weight he’ll put on, but clearly there’s been a pretty extensive effort to continually get him stronger.”