Lonzo Ball

Lonzo Ball picked up his $24.1 million option with the Bulls as expected. This comes after Ball has missed the last two and a half seasons with a knee injury.

Fantasy Impact

After missing the last two calendar years with injury, it makes sense why Ball would pick up his option, since he hasn't had a consistent chance to showcase his talent. But while the 26-year-old guard has flashes of brilliance and lots of potential, we still haven't seen him play in any capacity since January 2022. He can't be a reliable fantasy asset until he returns to the court consistently, making him a risky pick in drafts.

Bulls' coach Billy Donovan said he is "hopeful" Lonzo Ball starts running again in January.

Fantasy Impact

Donovan added that his optimism for a return for Ball remains intact. January will mark two years since his last NBA game. He continues to recover from left knee surgery.

Bulls VP Arturas Karnisovas said he does not expect Lonzo Ball to be back next season for Chicago.

Fantasy Impact

It remains to be seen if Ball will be able to play again after undergoing multiple surgeries on his knee. Chicago will likely pursue a guard or two this offseason with Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White set to hit free agency. It is possible the Bulls could bring either of them back as well.

Lonzo Ball will undergo a third knee procedure in the last 14 months. He is expected to miss a large portion of the 2023-2024 season.

Fantasy Impact

The struggles continue for Ball and his knee, who hasn't played since January of 2022. It's unclear exactly how long he will need to recover from this procedure, but he is expected to miss a good amount of next season on top of this season. The hope is that he will be able to recover and be ok in the long term.

Lonzo Ball may need a third surgical procedure done on his right knee. This would require another six months of recovery.

Fantasy Impact

Ball last played in January of 2022 and has since been dealing with an unusual and frustrating recovery process on his right knee. It is still not 100% certain that he will undergo a third surgery, but if he does, his availability for the start of next season could be in jeopardy as well.