The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Chicago Bulls for the first time this season with an added storyline attached. Typically, a game between a Western Conference contender and one of the bottom teams in the Eastern Conference would not have attached implications.
However, there will be a lot of eyeballs on this game with the Zach LaVine rumors swirling around. LaVine has firmly been on the trade block for weeks and the Lakers have been the most talked-about destination for the two-time all-star.
Some may view Wednesday's game as an audition of sorts for LaVine and the Lakers, but there is only one problem: LaVine has been on the injury report with a foot injury. As a result, many Lakers fans are asking the same question.
Is Zach LaVine playing tonight vs Lakers?
LaVine will not suit up for the Bulls on Wednesday night as he is still ruled out. Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said on Monday that LaVine is on track to return on his original 3-4 week time table, which will likely take him into the new year.
Chicago certainly has not missed a beat with LaVine being out of action. The Bulls are 6-3 in the nine games LaVine has missed. Prior to LaVine's injury, the Bulls had a 5-14 record. That may be another reason why the Bulls are okay with trading him (and a warning sign for the purple and gold).
Full Lakers injury report vs Bulls:
LeBron James (calf) and Anthony Davis (ankle) are both on the injury report and are listed as questionable. LeBron and AD are on the injury report almost every single game and most of the time they play. The two stars recently took turns with an off night on the team's road back-to-back last week, but that has really been it. Expect both stars to play barring a last-minute setback.
Jalen Hood-Schifino (back) and Gabe Vincent (knee) have both been ruled out of the game. Hood-Schifino does not have much of a role in the rotation and Vincent has only played four games this season.
Jarred Vanderbilt is listed as day-to-day with a heel injury but he is considered probable to play against the Bulls on Wednesday.
Full Bulls injury report vs Lakers:
Torrey Craig (heel), Henri Drell (thumb) and Onuralp Bitm (nasal fracture) have all been ruled out of Wednesday's game against the Lakers. Former Laker Lonzo Ball has not played in each of the last two seasons as he has undergone multiple knee surgeries.
Alex Caruso (ankle) and Patrick Williams (calf) are both listed as questionable. Fans will be paying close attention to Caruso not just because he was previously a fan favorite in LA, but because he could potentially be traded to the Lakers during a Bulls fire sale.