Bulls Injury Crisis Continues with Dillingham's Obscured Wrist Issue

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The Chicago Bulls are dealing with an injury crisis, with three of their four key trade deadline acquisitions - Jaden Ivey, Anfernee Simons, and Rob Dillingham - sidelined by various injuries. The latest revelation is that Dillingham has been playing through a pair of ganglion cysts in his shooting wrist, which have greatly impacted his shooting ability. The Bulls never listed Dillingham on the injury report, and coach Billy Donovan says the team can't work on his shot until the wrist issue is resolved. The Bulls' ability to properly evaluate their new players has been severely hampered by the lack of availability.

Why it matters

The Bulls' trade deadline moves were meant to help them assess their roster for the future, but the rash of injuries to their key acquisitions has severely damaged that process. The team is now left to plan its future around significant uncertainty, as they don't know the long-term prognosis for players like Ivey and Simons.

The details

Rob Dillingham has been playing through a pair of ganglion cysts in his shooting wrist, which have greatly impacted his shooting ability. The cysts are visible if you look closely at his wrist, and he has been wearing a wrap to try to prevent them from bursting. The Bulls' medical team attempted injections to treat the issue, but that was not successful. Dillingham's 3-point shooting has plummeted since the trade, going from 33.8% as a rookie to just 20.7% with the Bulls. Anfernee Simons, acquired from the Celtics, fractured his wrist in training camp and the injury has flared up again, sidelining him for the last eight games. Jaden Ivey, acquired from the Pistons, is still recovering from a fibular break and has been shut down to strengthen his left leg, with no clear timeline for his return.

• Dillingham arrived in Chicago at the trade deadline with the pair of wrist cysts.
• Simons fractured his wrist in training camp with the Celtics, an injury that lingered and flared up again six games into his tenure with the Bulls.
• Ivey played more than 30 minutes in a handful of games before being listed as a DNP – Coach's Decision on Feb. 19, undergoing a series of knee scans and being shut down to strengthen his left leg.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Bulls will need to determine the long-term prognosis for Ivey and Simons, and whether they will be able to factor into the team's plans for next season. The team will also need to address Dillingham's wrist issue in the offseason.