The Upside of Taj Gibson Undergoing Ankle Surgery

By Paul Steeno | Jun 20, 2015

The Chicago Bulls announced on Friday that forward Taj Gibson underwent reconstructive surgery on his left ankle on Tuesday. The report indicates that the surgery went as planned and Gibson will now begin a rehabilitation stint expected to last up to four months. The news of this surgery has major implications on the summer plans of the Bulls, however; long-term many of these implications could be positive.

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Gibson missed 17 games last season with left ankle injuries on three separate occasions.

Mark Bartelstein, Gibson’s agent, believes that his client can return ahead of schedule because of his “ability to play through pain and [his] diligence during previous rehabs.”

“Everything went great. There’s nothing chronic moving forward. It’s like he will have a brand new ankle,” Bartelstein said.

The timing of the surgery will give Gibson the opportunity to return stronger than ever and will give younger players a chance to get valuable playing time as he finishes his rehab into the beginning of next season.

It was important for the Bulls to address Gibson’s ankle issue as proactively as possible. The timing of this surgery gives him four months of recovery time to rest up and make sure the ankle is 100 percent ready for next season. If the surgery was in fact successful and Gibson attacks his rehab aggressively, he shouldn’t have a problem returning to form next season.

May 4, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) and guard Jimmy Butler (21) help guard Derrick Rose (1) to his feet in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game one of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Last season, Gibson played through the ankle issues and a grade-two ligament tear in his left hand and still managed to have one of the best seasons of his career. Last season, he averaged 10.3 points per game on 50.2 percent shooting from the floor in 27.3 minutes of playing time per game. His true shooting percentage of 54.5 percent and offensive win shares (2.7) were career-highs for Gibson.

If Gibson’s rehabilitation program goes as planned, imagine how good he could be next season when completely healthy. However, nothing is a guarantee when it comes to major surgery; just ask Joakim Noah. That is why Gibson’s rehabilitation is an opportunity to rectify the previous ankle issues and come into next season 100 percent healthy, not a concrete guarantee of success.

In addition, Gibson’ injury gives Nikola Mirotic an opportunity to play more minutes. The continued development of the Bulls group of young players should be a top priority for the Bulls this offseason.

According to Basketball Reference during the month of March, Mirotic averaged 30.8 minutes per game. He shot a season high 44.5 percent from the field averaging over 20 points per game, along with a usage rate of 30.5 percent, another season-high.

In December, Mirotic averaged just under 20 minutes per game, which amounted to his second-highest monthly minutes average of the season. Unsurprisingly, December turned out to be one of Mirotic’s most successful months as a pro. He shot 43.9 percent from the field with a season-high 61 percent true field goal percentage (excluding the month of October in which the Bulls only played two games).

Ideally, Mirotic uses these extra minutes to solidify his position in the rotation. Mirotic must use the momentum of a successful rookie season to continue to refine his game so he can have a larger role on this team. Mirotic has shown that he can be highly effective when given consistent minutes.

If Gibson’s is limited at the beginning of the season, this trend will once again be tested.

With a four-month rehabilitation timetable in place, Gibson will be hard-pressed to be “basketball ready” prior to the season opener in late October/early November.

In addition, he will probably miss Fred Hoiberg‘s first training camp sessions; which doesn’t bode well for his prospects of smoothly transitioning into the Bulls lineup once he is cleared to play.

The Bulls have a tendency of placing minute restrictions on players coming off of injuries (Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah last season). It is reasonable to assume that the same method will be used for Gibson when he is cleared to play this fall.

Unlike last season, Gibson’s injury will lead to Mirotic to have a larger role on this team. Last season, Mirotic averaged 20.2 minutes per game during the regular season and 14.9 minutes per game during the playoffs. However, his season was marked by inconsistencies and an inability to contribute effectively in the playoffs. These troubles have a lot to do with the inconsistencies in his nightly minutes.

Gibson’s recent ankle surgery provides a dual-purposed opportunity for the Bulls. The timing of the surgery gives Gibson the opportunity to recover without missing a significant portion of next season. If he does miss games next season or is placed under minute restrictions, Mirotic is waiting in the wings to make the most of that opportunity and continue his development towards stardom in the NBA.

Perhaps most importantly, Gibson’s current injury will make him less appealing to other teams, ensuring that he is playing for the Bulls next season.

Next: Taj Gibson (ankle surgery) to miss next four months

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