TITLE: Simons Sidelined, Ivey’s Status in Question as Bulls Shift Focus After Trade Deadline
SLUG: simons-out-ivey-rehab-bulls-shift-focus
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Anfernee Simons will not play against the Knicks tonight because of a sprained left wrist, head coach Billy Donovan told reporters. The guard exited Saturday’s loss to the Pistons after 13 minutes and is scheduled for imaging on Monday. Donovan said the team does not yet know how severe the injury is and acknowledged the diagnosis could change once test results are in.
Simons, acquired in the deal that sent Nikola Vucevic to Boston, has appeared in five games for Chicago. Over that stretch, he has averaged 17.4 points and 3.6 assists while connecting on 32.7% of his three-point attempts.
Ivey’s Recovery Being Closely Watched
The Bulls’ deadline strategy largely centered on improving draft lottery odds, but trading for Jaden Ivey was viewed internally as a move for the future. The 22-year-old guard, set to enter free agency this summer, is still working back from injury. Despite Ivey’s own admission that he does not feel fully like himself, Donovan expressed guarded optimism, saying added strength could restore much of his explosiveness.
Former coach J.B. Bickerstaff echoed that sentiment, stressing the mental component of the rehab process. He noted that while a full recovery is expected, the timeline remains difficult to predict and confidence in the injury’s stability must return.
Huerter Reflects on Deadline Shuffle
Kevin Huerter, now with Detroit, spoke about the uncertainty that surrounded Chicago’s locker room before the flurry of deadline moves. With the Bulls hovering around .500, players were unsure whether management would push for the postseason or initiate a rebuild. “Seven or eight trades—whatever it was—nobody saw that many coming,” Huerter said. Although the in-season relocation was challenging, the 27-year-old is pleased with the opportunity to join an Eastern Conference contender.
Lottery Odds and Front-Office Strategy
Chicago enters the stretch run at a disadvantage in the race for top draft positioning, a pattern that has marked vice president Artūras Karnišovas’s tenure. Still, team observers believe resetting the roster was necessary, pointing to the projected depth of the 2026 draft class as justification for the pivot.
Source: Hoops Rumors
