- Due to right foot issues, LaVine has only played in 25 games this year
- All eyes will now be on six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan potentially being traded
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Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine will undergo surgery on his right foot and will miss the remainder of the season, the team announced.
The 28-year-old decided to undergo surgery in consultation with the team and his agency Klutch Sports Group.
LaVine was originally expected to be out of action for a week due to right foot discomfort.
He hasn't played for the Bulls since Jan. 18 due to foot problems and has appeared in just 25 games this season.
The surgery is expected to sideline him for four to six months.
Zach LaVine will undergo surgery on his right foot and will miss the remainder of the season
LaVine had been out since Jan. 18 and previously missed 17 games due to foot problems
The Bulls will likely give up their playing time to young players like White and Dosunmu
All eyes will now be on the possibility of six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan being traded away
At the start of the season, LaVine had missed 17 games due to foot problems.
When he took the court this season, LaVine averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
The two-time All-Star's name has been in trade rumors all season, although his surgery will likely end any chances of him being shipped out of Chicago before the trade deadline.
Even before it was announced that the surgery ended his season, a recent report from NBC said the Bulls may have been forced to add another asset to any trade package that included moving the two-time Slam Dunk Contest winner.
Multiple reports said the Detroit Pistons had “real” interest in acquiring LaVine and the two teams were in trade discussions about a potential blockbuster deal.
All eyes will now be on six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan, who is in the final years of his contract with Chicago and whose name has also appeared in trade rumors throughout the season.
Chicago currently sits in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 23-26 and will likely give up playing time to young, promising players like Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu.