Will the Chicago Bulls cut Lonzo Ball loose?

What the future may hold for Lonzo Ball and the Bulls.

© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls have given point guard Lonzo Ball their full support after he injured his knee in January 2022 and hasn’t played since. It’s been 732 days since Ball has suited up for the Bulls, and that number will likely reach 1,000 before he sees the court again. 

As the NBA season moves on and the Bulls continue to wade into the waters of mediocrity, a valid question has popped up: Should the Bulls cut Ball loose and move on without him?

Big contract, no returns

Like any good franchise, the Bulls’ front office must consider all options involving Ball, who has undergone three knee surgeries in the last two years, including a cartilage transplant last year that many hope is the solution to his injury woes. 

The Bulls invested heavily in Ball, signing him to a four-year, $80 million contract in the summer of 2021. However, with his inability to stay healthy and contribute on the court, it’s only fair to question if that investment was wise.

It’s a tough decision for the Bulls’ front office – do they stick with Ball and hope he can finally stay healthy? Or do they explore trading him and cutting their losses?

“Ball owns a $21.4 million player option for next season that he’ll certainly exercise. Given that insurance is currently paying the bulk of his contract, it’s conceivable that Ball is used as a salary-matching addition to any potential trade the Bulls make before the Feb. 8 trade deadline,” KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago wrote.

Today marks 2-year anniversary since Lonzo Ball last played in an NBA game

Bulls regular-season record with Ball: 27-13
Bulls regular-season record since: 78-88

Bulls have ruled Ball out this season and said he is expected to begin running this month following latest surgery

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 14, 2024

What the future holds for Ball

The Bulls are rooting for a happy ending for the once-dynamic two-way guard who helped the Bulls rise to the top of the Eastern Conference in late 2021. However, it remains to be seen when Ball will play again, if at all. It’s also uncertain if he’ll be able to regain the form that made him a fan favorite in Chicago. With this in mind, could the team be better off casting Ball aside now?

“The Bulls’ $10.2 million disabled player exception for Ball expires on March 10. Their payroll currently sits barely below the $165.3 million luxury tax threshold, and they are hard-capped at $172 million. So it’s likely that exception will go unused,” Johnson added.

“If Ball remains on the Bulls into March and is unable to return next season, the franchise can apply for a provision wherein his player option doesn’t count towards their salary cap or luxury tax figures.”

Lonzo Ball played in his last NBA game two years ago today on January 14, 2022.

Lonzo, who is ruled out for the 2023-24 NBA season with continuous knee injuries & surgeries, began running again this month.

Get well soon, Lonzo! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/tBxDlHX0rT

— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) January 15, 2024

Billy Donovan is optimistic Lonzo Ball can get back as the guard hits the two-year anniversary of his last NBA game