There’s uncertainty regarding the status of two recently-acquired guards, Bulls coach Billy Donovan told the media, including the Chicago Sun Times’ Joe Cowley, on Tuesday.
Anfernee Simons is dealing with a left hand fracture. Simons injured his hand on Saturday and had imaging done on Monday.
Simons actually has an existing fracture in the hand that he’s been dealing with since training camp with the Celtics. However, he doesn’t require a surgical procedure unless the injury worsens and he could return soon.
“He did have some difficulty in Boston with it in training camp and missed a little bit of time, maybe 10 days with it,” Donovan said. “The fracture hasn’t quite healed and I think him seeing a hand specialist they decided that once the pain subsides, he’s fine to go back to play. I don’t know how long that’s going to be.”
Jaden Ivey is dealing with left knee soreness that will keep him out at least two weeks.
“We started him on a program, right now just to ramp him up physically,” Donovan said. “A lot of it has been to get the strength back in around his knee. That process started a couple days ago, so he’s in the midst of doing that. Talking to the medical guys it’s going to be pretty intense for him, the program to get the strength back as quickly as possible, so he’s going to have to really work hard on that part of it. I think he feels better not playing, the pain has subsided, but the biggest concern the medical guys have is his strength.”
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Coby White isn’t dwelling on the past when it comes to his Bulls career. White was dealt to Charlotte earlier this month with free agency looming. “You could always live in ‘what could have been,’” he said, per Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune. “I’ve kind of learned through my life that ‘what could have been’ brings you nothing but anxiousness and worry. Things happen for a reason. That’s just how the chips fell. A lot of it is out of your control. I don’t really try to live in the ‘what if.’” White made his Hornets debut against his former team on Tuesday and finished with 10 points and four assists in 16 minutes.
Their losing streak stretched to 10 games, their longest since January 2019, as they were blown out 131-99, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network tweets. Matas Buzelis was the lone bright spot, as he scored a career-high 32 points.
Zach Collins was shut down for the season over the weekend after it was determined he required toe surgery. He actually apologized to Donovan for his lack of availability this season. ‘‘I just told him, ‘I’m sorry, man,’’’ Collins said, per Cowley. ‘‘I thought I had a lot more to give him this year. Unfortunately, between the wrist and the toe, I just didn’t have a chance to show it. ‘I thought I had a really good summer. I was really looking forward to helping the team. It’s been a frustrating year injury-wise as a whole for the team, but individually I knew I had more to give him and felt like the team would have been in a better spot had I not gone through all these injuries.’’ Collins, who played just 10 games, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Another recently acquired guard, Rob Dillingham, is getting an extensive look due to all the changes and injuries in the backcourt. “I’ve got an opportunity here,” he told Poe. “At least here I’m getting on the floor, you know? It’s up to me to perform to the best of my opportunity, and then from there it’ll keep growing and growing.” It’s been a struggle for Dillingham thus far for the former Timberwolves guard. He played 23 minutes against the Hornets but shot 2-for-9 from the field and committed three turnovers, compared to five assists.