The Chicago Bulls may have to look for a new starting point guard at the beginning of the season. Lonzo Ball‘s recovery is taking a bit longer than expected, indicating that the starting guard may not be available for the start of training camp.
On January 28th Lonzo underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus which, in turn, was supposed to keep him out for only a couple of months. The Bulls expected Lonzo to be 100% healthy for the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, the cards did not fall that way, as Lonzo struggled with several setbacks during his recovery.
Here’s what ESPN’s Jamal Collier and Ramona Shelburne had to say on Lonzo’s injury:
"Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is expected to miss training camp and is doubtful for the start of the regular season because of lingering pain and discomfort following meniscus surgery on his left knee in January. While a source reiterated that Ball’s knee is structurally sound after he underwent arthroscopic surgery on Jan. 28, he continued to experience pain while attempting basketball activities as he spent the summer rehabbing in Los Angeles."
With the season on the horizon, this is the last thing the Bulls front office wanted to hear, that they may be without their starting point guard for a prolonged period of time. With the rest of the Eastern Conference getting better, the Bulls have already taken a hit before the season even started.
What does Lonzo Ball’s injury mean for the Chicago Bulls going into training camp?
It means that the starting point guard position is up for grabs and it’s likely that Ayo Dosunmu may be the best possible suitor for the position. After coming off of a solid year 1, Ayo has to be ready to take the reigns of the offense and prove that he is the man for the job.
Considering the abundant amount of talent that currently resides in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls cannot afford to fall back in the rankings. They have to be ready to hit the ground running whether Lonzo is in the lineup or not. As much as the Bulls will miss Lonzo’s defensive presence, they have enough pieces to keep them afloat until he is able to return.
Training camp begins in a couple of weeks and the Bulls’ first regular season game is Oct 19th against the Miami Heat. This gives Lonzo some time to make progress in his recovery, but if Lonzo is still not 100%, don’t be surprised if you see someone like Ayo Dosunmu starting in his stead.