PHOENIX – Lonzo Ball and Zach LaVine will finally be reunited once again when the team arrives in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Unfortunately, it will be with the Bulls medical team rather than the coaching staff, and involve rehabbing rather than anything that resembles playing basketball.
According to coach Billy Donovan, LaVine (sprained right ankle) flew out to Los Angeles rather than joining the team in Phoenix so he could continue his rehab, while Ball (left knee) has been rehabbing from a third surgery out in LA since last year.
Both will get a lot of facetime with their teammates, considering the Bulls will spend the next five days there.
“(LaVine’s) getting better,” Donovan said. “I’m not aware of him doing anything on the court yet, but the report is he’s feeling better.”
That doesn’t mean there was a definite timetable for LaVine’s return, but if his past history with ankle sprains means anything it’s not expected to be very lengthy.
“I think there’s optimism that he’s responded pretty well in the past to some ankle sprains, but I think until he gets back on the court and starts moving, cutting, we’ll get a better feel when he starts to do those things,” Donovan said.
The news was far less promising for Ball.
Last month, Donovan was told that Ball – who hasn’t played in over two years – was expected to start sprinting in January. That hasn’t happened yet, however.
“He’s doing a lot of like agility work right now in terms of Karaoke and slides, doing those things,” Donovan said. “He has not been cleared to fully sprint, but he is doing some more agility work. He hasn’t done any sprinting on the treadmill or straight ahead, but he is on the court moving around.”
Ball has popped in and out of Chicago throughout this season, and Donovan has stayed in contact with the point guard in between those visits, but as far as any plans to fully come back and stay with the team, that is still way down the road.
“In my interaction with him he feels good, he hasn’t had any setbacks,” Donovan added of Ball. “Everything they’ve progressed him onto he’s tolerated, and it’s been good.”
Tough love
Twice in Saturday’s home win over Memphis, Donovan gave Patrick Williams a quick hook. Once in the first quarter, and the second time to start the second half.
Both also came with an explanation from coach to player.
“I just thought the first stint he was in there that there are opportunities that guys have to take advantage of closeouts and rotations,” Donovan said of that decision. “And I thought there were a couple possessions there where he really had an opportunity to shoot it, drive it or make a play. We talk about being aggressive. It’s in those moments.
“I thought there were a couple possessions there that he was a little bit passive on. Talked to him about it and then I thought he was a little better as the game went on.”
Williams actually was, scoring eight points in that second half, and doing so in just under 12 minutes of work in the eventual blowout.
Even better news? Williams doesn’t mind being coached hard.
“Having those dialogues, whether it’s him taking me out or guys getting on me, that’s what development and learning is all about,” Williams said. “It’s not always going to be pretty. But now I can go back and work.”
Getting there
Forward Torrey Craig (plantar fasciitis) hasn’t played since Dec. 16 with the injury, but has started running and “getting work in,” according to Donovan. The injury was expected to sideline Craig for six-to-eight weeks before being re-evaluated.