Number of 2016-17 preseason Bulls with a history of serious knee injuries: 7
Next: Bulls vs. Hawks: Game Analysis after 97-81 loss
As the Bulls’ preseason comes to a merciful close, I just wanted to do more of a preseason takeaway than a game takeaway for this last slide.
There are seven players on this team who have had severe knee injuries. Seven.
After ditching Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose this summer, in no small part due to those former All-Stars’ depressing history of knee injuries, the Bulls added or kept a whole bunch of dudes with a depressing history of knee injuries. Seeing this team struggle in transition against Atlanta reminded me of everybody’s balky knees.
Here’s a handy inventory for the curious: Wade (two meniscus surgeries), Rajon Rondo (one ACL surgery), Denzel Valentine (two arthroscopic surgeries), Doug McDermott (one meniscus surgery), Paul Zipser (knee tear that caused him to miss six months of play), Robin Lopez (one meniscus surgery), and Spencer Dinwiddie (one ACL surgery).
Granted, Dinwiddie is more likely to suit up in Hoffman Estates than in Chicago come when the Bulls’ regular season tips off next Thursday.
Or just get, pardon the expression, cut (poor guy has a non-guaranteed contract).