Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine knee injury return smart?

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 10: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons and Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls warm up before the game on March 10, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 10: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons and Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls warm up before the game on March 10, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 1: Zach LaVine #8 and Otto Porter Jr. #22 of the Chicago Bulls talk during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 1, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jasear Thompson/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 1: Zach LaVine #8 and Otto Porter Jr. #22 of the Chicago Bulls talk during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on March 1, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jasear Thompson/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Case for sitting out

We can start here with the most obvious point you can make when discussing a player that already had a devastating knee injury and is trying to return from another. While the knee injury isn’t directly related to the torn ACL he suffered back with the Minnesota Timberwolves before getting dished out to the Windy City.

This does signify that the knee injuries are something that could pile up for LaVine over time if he’s not careful. Similar to the way that Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had some real trouble with ankle injuries early in his career, the Bulls need to be very careful with LaVine’s situation.

There was some talk of LaVine just shutting it down for the rest of the regular season in general. While there is slightly under one month of regular season basketball left, giving LaVine the rest and recovery he needs to come back in 2019-20 and excel is the most important factor on the table. The coaching staff needs to be very cautious with him moving forward either way.

The biggest point in the case for the Bulls to sit LaVine for the rest of the regular season is the fact that more guards would get extra playing time. The Bulls do have quite a few needs to fill this summer deep in the rotation, and an absent LaVine would help the coaching staff figure out better what this team needs and what it has in the fold deeper in the rotation a bit more.