(670 The Score) Bulls guard Zach LaVine recently had a platelet-rich plasma injection in his sore right foot, he said, in an attempt to calm the inflammation on the lateral side of that foot.
Late Wednesday night, the Bulls announced that LaVine will miss the next three to four weeks. LaVine initially felt discomfort in the foot in a game on Nov. 18, and he hasn't played since Nov. 28.
"It bugs you, a boney, prominent area," LaVine said. "You really don't want to start messing around with that, that fifth metatarsal area and it gets more and more irritated. It's just smart to calm it down now to where I can get back to 100% and hopefully finish the season strong and help everybody out."
The context surrounding LaVine's injury is that he and his representation have made it known to the Bulls that he's open to being traded, a development that feels more like an inevitability than a possibility. When a deal could be made remains uncertain, but more NBA players become trade-eligible on Dec. 15, making the days/weeks that follow a key time frame.
LaVine refuted the notion that his trade saga is connected in any way to the length of his injury absence.
"I think it's funny," LaVine said. "For everybody that knows me, I try to play through everything. This has nothing to do with anything off the court. Everything off the court is still, obviously, very much speculation. It's funny to me to see all the narratives and things like that that people run with. I deal with it internally, but it is what it is. I go out there and put my heart on for Chicago whenever I put that jersey on. And when I get back out there, I'll continue to do that."
The Bulls have won three straight games with LaVine out. They're 3-1 with him sidelined this season.
"I'm happy for the team," LaVine said. "If I'm not happy for the team, that would be saying something about me. I'm the first guy out there (to celebrate). However you got to get a win, get a win. We were in a spot that early, we weren't looking very good. Whatever may have sparked it, if it was me off the court, that's a narrative that people want to run with. But we've won three games (in a row), and I'm happy for it.
"Hopefully I can get this foot right to get back out there and help out my guys."
LaVine has struggled this season in averaging 21.0 points while shooting 44.3%, a pair of figures that are his lowest marks since the 2017-'18 campaign, when he returned midseason after rehabbing a torn ACL.
LaVine had initially been hopeful that his foot would feel good after a few days of rest, but he continued experiencing soreness in recent days. Following the PRP injection, his treatment plan is now to rest the foot and "stay off of it."
LaVine's current injury and his willingness to be traded has raised a question for everyone in Chicago and the organization – has he already played his final game as a Bull?
"I don't think about anything like that," LaVine said. "The main thing that I'm thinking about is getting my foot right and hopefully getting back out there, help these guys continue winning and playing like this."
It was then pointed out to LaVine that his love for his teammates and focus to return to the Bulls contrasts with the trade request that leaked out about him.
"The storylines that are out there right now about me is both something that wasn't said completely verbally to the media," LaVine said. "It is something that is behind closed doors, and a bunch of narratives can get spun around and said about me and things and stories will be portrayed. And that's part of the business. I think that's what comes with it. Am I still a part of this team and very committed? Yeah, I've got a Bulls jersey on. I committed here. For as long as I'll be here, I will still support and love Chicago and go out there and play my heart out for those guys. That's never going to change."
Cody Westerlund is an editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
