Chicago Bulls Offer Up One Concerning, One Encouraging Injury Update

The Chicago Bulls will proceed to beryllium without 1 of their champion large men for nan forseeable future.

Ahead of Wednesday night's gathering pinch nan Utah Jazz astatine nan United Center, caput coach Billy Donovan provided an update connected Zach Collins. The backup halfway has been sidelined since December 29 owed to a toed injury. The extended absence marks Collins' 2nd of nan season, arsenic he besides missed nan first 21 games of nan regular play owed to a wrist injury.

We learned past week that Collins' wounded was considered "significant" and that nan statement was seeking aggregate opinions connected nan champion measurement to proceed. While room has seemingly been taken disconnected nan array for now, nan Bulls person provided nary timeline for Collins' return. Instead, Donovan shared that Collins will now proceed to beryllium successful his footwear for astatine slightest nan adjacent 2 weeks (h/t Will Gottlieb CHGO).

The Bulls' caput coach moreover went arsenic acold arsenic to opportunity that he does not expect a return for Collins earlier nan All-Star break. In different words, he is now expected to miss nan team's adjacent 16 games. This intends he would beryllium sidelined for 37 of nan team's first 47 contests of 2025-26.

Collins has played good successful his constricted action this season, making nan absence wounded that overmuch more. He has averaged 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists successful his 10 games frankincense far, and nan Bulls person gone 6-4 successful those outings. This isn't to opportunity he is nan driving unit down a winning Bulls team, but location is nary mobility he brings a level of physicality and rim protection they desperately lack. And he does that while providing nan aforesaid benignant of floor-spacing and passing expertise they covet.

Nevertheless, injuries person been an unfortunate portion of Collins' career. He hasn't appeared successful much than 69 games since his 2nd play successful nan NBA (2018-19). The deficiency of readiness will undoubtedly person to beryllium factored into nan Bulls' offseason decision-making. Collins is group to deed unrestricted free agency this summer. While he antecedently felt for illustration personification this beforehand agency could look to support astir because of his beardown play, nan wounded history speaks for itself.

There is besides nary uncertainty that this news could person a morganatic effect connected this upcoming waste and acquisition deadline. It's unclear if a marketplace would person emerged for Collins' services, but he has felt for illustration personification who could beryllium connected nan move owed to his expiring contract. Do I deliberation this wholly eliminates nan anticipation of him being included successful a trade? Not necessarily. The mid-tier net unsocial could travel successful useful ($18.1 million). However, immoderate non-tanking squad would apt beryllium hesitant astir acquiring him if they are unsure astir his wellness moving forward.

What About Josh Giddey?

In overmuch much optimistic news, Josh Giddey is trending up!

Billy Donovan shared that nan lead defender is expected to commencement ramping up this week. While it doesn't sound arsenic if they person put a circumstantial timeline connected his return, Donovan shared that he has progressed "really, really well" (h/t Drew Stevens). He besides said that he expects this ramp-up play to return astatine slightest a week.

Of course, Giddey has missed nan past 7 games pinch a hamstring strain. Prior to that, he was playing nan champion hoops of his profession and posting All-Star-caliber numbers. The 23-year-old continues to rank 3rd successful triple-doubles and 5th successful double-doubles, averaging 19.2 points, 9.0 assists, and 8.9 rebounds per game.

All things considered, Giddey's return could person a important effect connected nan trajectory of nan play arsenic a whole. Most signs person pointed toward a waste and acquisition deadline sell-off, but we each cognize this beforehand agency has tried to debar that astatine each costs successful caller years. If Giddey does measurement backmost connected nan level and thief Chicago rattle disconnected a fewer wins, does Arturas Karnisovas revert people again? Does he talk himself into different Play-In Tournament run?