Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine is making progress in his recovery from an ankle injury, but the two-time All-Star still isn’t ready to return to the lineup.
A league source told The Sacramento Bee that LaVine is progressing in his rehabilitation from a left ankle sprain and will be reevaluated in about one week.
The news came as the Kings prepared to face the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. LaVine was ruled out for the fourth consecutive game after injuring his ankle in a Nov. 14 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He will likely miss at least two or three more games before he is ready to return.
LaVine’s absence has allowed the Kings to move DeMar DeRozan to shooting guard while starting Keegan Murray at small forward. The Kings organization believes the small forward spot is Murray’s ideal position.
The Kings acquired LaVine, 30, ahead of the trade deadline last season in the deal that sent De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs. He averaged 22.4 points in 32 games, shooting 51.1% from the field and 44.6% from 3-point range.
LaVine has been up and down this season, from scoring 30 points or more in five of the first six games to his recent run-in with a fan who criticized his defensive effort. LaVine has appeared in 23 games, averaging 20.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists while shooting 48.7% from the field and 38.5% from 3-point range.
LaVine, who is earning $47.5 million this season in the fourth year of a five-year, $215 million contract, has been the subjected of trade rumors recently with reported interest from the Milwaukee Bucks.