The Chicago Bulls made a series of deadline moves earlier this month in an attempt to push into playoff contention, yet they remain winless in February.
On paper, the roster looked improved in key areas. Chicago added backcourt firepower in Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton and Jaden Ivey to complement star guard Josh Giddey. So far, though, the new pieces haven't translated into results.
As a result, the Bulls entered Saturday's matchup against the Detroit Pistons riding a seven-game losing streak, with frustration mounting over defensive lapses and late-game inconsistency.
That's what makes the latest development so concerning.
Ivey, acquired on Feb. 3, 2026, and a former lottery pick by Detroit, has been diagnosed with left knee soreness and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, a timeline that could significantly disrupt Chicago's outlook for the rest of the season.
Ivey, 24 years old and viewed as a high-upside backcourt piece, was supposed to help stabilize perimeter scoring and create easier looks for the Bulls' core. Instead, his absence compounds Chicago's slide.
With the franchise sitting at 24-32 and outside the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, every missed game is a missed opportunity to climb back into contention before the season's final push.
The Bulls also confirmed that backup big man Zach Collins remains out with a right big-toe sprain and will miss the remainder of the season, removing another rotation option for a team scrambling for interior defense and rebounding.
Over the next two weeks, the Bulls will have to lean even more heavily on their primary ball-handlers and wing creators, players already carrying increased workloads.
Expect the rotation to tighten. Minutes for Giddey, Simons and Sexton should rise, with Tre Jones and other depth pieces absorbing whatever additional usage the coaching staff can manufacture.
For a Bulls team that has flirted with retooling rather than committing to a full rebuild, uncertainty surrounding a former lottery pick further complicates any offseason planning.
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