RealGM Basketball Wiretap

21 March 2023

• Lonzo Ball Undergoes Cartilage Transplant Surgery On Monday

  Lonzo Ball underwent cartilage transplant surgery on Monday, his third procedure on his left knee in just over a year.

  "I do know that Lonzo, just based on the information he was able to gather from different sets of doctors, [was] making the decision that he felt like this was the best chance to be able to get him back on the court.

  "We all understand that that is going to be an uphill battle for him, but I know he's going to do everything possible in his rehab to get himself back on the court," said Billy Donovan on Monday.

  Donovan added that Ball would be out "indefinitely," with Adrian Wojnarowski reporting that the guard could potentially miss all of next season.

  Ball hasn't played since January 14, 2022.

• Lonzo Ball To Undergo Third Surgery On Left Knee, Could Miss Entire 23-24 Season

  Lonzo Ball will undergo a third surgery on his left knee that is expected to cause him to miss most, if not all, of the 23-24 season.

  Ball hasn't played since January 2022.

  There is optimism that this procedure will allow Ball to play again.

  The Chicago Bulls signed Ball to a four-year, $85 million deal during the 2021 offseason.

• Lonzo Ball Facing Possible Third Surgery On Right Knee

  Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball has already been shut down for the remainder of this season. Now, Ball is facing a third surgery on his right knee that would extend that absence into next season, as well.

  Ball hasn't played since suffering a torn meniscus on January 14, 2022. At the time of injury, Ball was in the midst of the best all-around season of his career and the Chicago Bulls were one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

  The veteran point guard still can't run, cut or jump without pain, following two surgeries over the past year-plus. A third surgery is considered the best path for Ball to play again. Ball and his representatives are consulting specialists, but a third surgery would likely come with an additional sixth months of recovery and rehab. That would put Ball in a tough spot to be ready for the start of the 2023-24 season.

• Bulls Sign Carlik Jones For Rest Of Season

  The Chicago Bulls converted Carlik Jones from a two-way deal to a standard contract, reported Shams Charania of The Athletic.

  Jones was named the G League Player of the Month for February after averaging 27.5 points and 8.1 assists for the month.

• Bucks Emerge As Favorites For Goran Dragic

  The Milwaukee Bucks have emerged as the strong favorites to sign Goran Dragic.

  Dragic cleared waivers on Thursday after his buyout agreement with the Chicago Bulls.

  Dragic strongly considered the Bucks last season when he instead joined the Brooklyn Nets.

  The Bucks believe Dragic will add depth in the backcourt.

• Goran Dragic Waived By Bulls

  The Chicago Bulls have released Goran Dragic, which will make him playoff eligible.

  Dragic appeared in 51 games with the Bulls, averaging 6.4 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 15.4 minutes.

• Bulls Sign Terry Taylor To Two-Way, Waive Malcolm Hill

  The Chicago Bulls have waived Malcolm Hill from his Two-Way contract in order to sign Terry Taylor to the slot.

  Taylor played in 26 games with the Indiana Pacers this season.

• Patrick Beverley Chose Bulls Over Warriors

  Patrick Beverley chose to sign with the Chicago Bulls, but he very nearly joined the Golden State Warriors instead.

  "I'm going to be taking my talents back home," Beverley said on his podcast. "It was between Golden State and the Bulls. Obviously, it's always good to play with a lot of great talent in Golden State, but y'know, a lot of guards over there. So, I figured I could make a playoff push with the Bulls right now, and kinda pop them up a little bit. The east is kinda weak. I'm excited man, I'm excited. I get to take my son to school. I get to take my son and baby girl to school, I get to pick them up, I get to rep my city on my chest."

  The Warriors have a surplus of guards though the availability of both Stephen Curry and Gary Payton II is uncertain as they deal with injuries.

• Lonzo Ball Shut Down For Remainder Of Season Due To Pain In Left Knee

  The Chicago Bulls are shutting down Lonzo Ball for the remainder of this season. Ball hasn't played this year, while dealing with pain and discomfort in his surgically repaired left knee.

  Ball was diagnosed with a bone bruise and small meniscus tear in his left knee in January of 2022. He underwent surgery and was initially given a potential return date before the end of last season. Ball had a setback in March and missed the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

  While rehabbing, Ball had fits and starts with his recovery, including needing to be shut down at different points due to continued soreness in his left knee. Now, the Bulls have made the decision to close the door on the sixth-year guard playing this season. Chicago is signing Patrick Beverley to a rest-of-season contract, as the Bulls continue to push for a playoff spot.

  Ball averaged 13 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.8 steals and nearly a block per game in 35 games for Chicago last season. At the time he was injured in mid-January, the Bulls were near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Chicago ultimately fell to sixth in the conference and lost a 4-1 series to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs.

• Bulls Expected To Waive Tony Bradley

  The Chicago Bulls are expected to waive backup center Tony Bradley. This move will free up the roster spot Chicago needs to sign guard Patrick Beverley.

  Bradley is finishing the second season of a two-year minimum contract he signed with Chicago in 2021. He'll be on the Bulls books for roughly $2 million in dead salary upon being waived. Bradley is expected to garner interest from teams that are still in the market for a backup center.

  Bradley's role significantly reduced after Chicago traded for Nikola Vucevic last season and signed Andre Drummond this past offseason. The sixth-year center has appeared in 12 games for the Bulls this season.