What’s it like to have a healthy basketball team?
The Chicago Bulls injury woes continued on Thursday, when the organization revealed that big-man Luke Kornet would miss 6-8 weeks with a foot AND ankle injury. While we knew Kornet suffered some kind of ankle sprain during practice on February 21st, we had no clue of the severity until now.
Over the last three games, the Bulls kept us in the dark on Kornet’s status as he missed time alongside Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. Kris Dunn, Chandler Hutchison, and Denzel Valentine. Considering the now shared timetable, it’s hard to imagine this medical staff didn’t know the extent of Kornet’s injury earlier. But, to be fair, the Bulls did say that it was subsequent testing that showed a severe ankle sprain and fracture to his fifth metatarsal.
Looking ahead, it seems like a pretty safe bet that Kornet will not see the court again this season – even if he were healthy enough to return in six weeks, the Bulls would only have three games left at that point. With Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. expected to be back on the floor by that time, as well as Daniel Gafford there to hold down the fort, it feels unnecessary to rush Kornet back. Not to mention, when the Bulls had all their big man healthy in the middle of the season, Kornet was removed from the rotation altogether.
At this point, Kornet’s now extended absence isn’t anything to fret about. The Bulls season is down the drain, and the rest of the playing time should be devoted to the “young core” anyway. Still, that doesn’t make this ridiculous injury situation any less frustrating.
In other quick news, Carter Jr., Gafford, and Valentine all went to scrimmage with the Windy City Bulls yesterday, which bodes well for a possible Saturday return from Carter Jr. and Valentine. It’s almost time to see what a Zach-Coby-Wendell trio can do!
Wendell Carter Jr., Denzel Valentine and Daniel Gafford have been assigned to the @windycitybulls for today's Windy City scrimmage. They are expected to be recalled to the Bulls immediately following. pic.twitter.com/LoXgmXziSY
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 26, 2020