Bulls team president Arturas Karnisovas said
Ball would miss the entire 2023-24 season to focus on getting
his knee to full strength, adding, "If he comes back, it would
be great."
"I think last month he got off the crutches. He's recovering,
doing his rehab, everything is going well," Karnisovas said.
"Going into the offseason, I think our expectation is that he's
not coming back next season. And he's going to continue on his
recovery."
Ball last played in a game in January 2022. He averaged 13.0
points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals in 35 starts in
his first season with Chicago in 2021-22.
The Bulls are targeting point guards and perimeter shooters in
free agency to compensate for a second straight season without
Ball, Karnisovas said. The Bulls could apply to the NBA for a
"disabled player provision," recovering a portion of the salary
cap space Ball would occupy without filling a jersey or active
roster spot. He carries a $20.5 million cap hit in 2023-24, per
Spotrac.
"I hope, eventually, you're going to see him on a basketball
court," Karnisovas said. "But I do not think he's going to be
back next season."
Drafted with the No. 2 overall pick by the Los Angeles Lakers in
2017, Ball has averaged 11.9 points, 6.2 assists and 5.7
rebounds in 252 games (239 starts) with the Lakers, New Orleans
Pelicans and Bulls.
--Field Level Media
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