Bulls exec: LaVine is healthy, can help next season

Chicago Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said that wing Zach LaVine is healthy following an injury-plagued season and can help the next iteration of the franchise.

“We expect Zach being fully healthy," Karnisovas said, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. "And he is healthy. I think he can help this group next year. He’s been professional ... We expect him to be with us at the start of training camp.”

LaVine missed 57 games last season for the Bulls due to foot injuries and was reportedly included in trade discussions. He averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists when he was on the court.

The Bulls finished ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 39-43 record but were eliminated in the play-in tournament by the Miami Heat for the second straight campaign. Karnisovas said after the loss that "everything is on the table" to change the direction of the franchise.

The team that LaVine will return to is missing a few pieces from last year's squad. Chicago traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder for young wing Josh Giddey, lost Andre Drummond in free agency to the Philadelphia 76ers, and agreed to move DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade deal with the Sacramento Kings.

The Bulls acquired wing Chris Duarte in the DeRozan trade and signed center Jalen Smith in free agency. The franchise also re-signed forward Patrick Williams to a five-year, $90-million contract and drafted G League forward Matas Buzelis prior to free agency.

"I would say that we have a lot of experienced young guys that are moving in the right direction," Karnisovas said of the team's additions. "And I think the changes that are happening right now are going to help us to build for the future."