Bulls' Zach LaVine Could Return from Foot Injury Within Next Week, per Billy Donovan

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine hasn't played since Nov. 28 because of a foot injury, but his return may not be far away.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan told reporters LaVine has not experienced any setbacks as he ramped up his preparations for a return. Donovan even said he "doesn't want to rule out" the guard being on the floor for Friday's game against the Charlotte Hornets.

In theory, getting LaVine back would be welcome news for Chicago.

He is a two-time All-Star and one of the go-to options who is averaging 21 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game this season. However, the team is 5-13 in the 18 games he has played and 10-6 in the games he has missed this season.

As a result, the Bulls have climbed into the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference standings, which would place them in the play-in tournament.

Coby White in particular has played some of the best basketball of his career with the additional opportunities that an injured LaVine has created, which has helped the team improve its overall outlook for the season.

There is also the question of LaVine's trade market.

Since DeMar DeRozan is a free agent after the season, the Bulls could look to kickstart something of a soft rebuild with an eye on the future. They likely aren't going to compete for titles in the immediate future, and trading LaVine and possibly DeRozan could accelerate the rebuilding process.

However, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported last week that LaVine's trade market is "barren—especially with him working his way back from an injury."

The only way for that trade market to improve is with him returning and playing at the All-Star level he has reached in the past. Perhaps that disrupts Chicago's recent on-court chemistry and momentum, but improving that trade market would serve the team's long-term outlook much better than having him continue to sit out.