Chicago Bulls: 5 takeaways from 2017-18 Media Day

2. Bulls will take conservative approach with LaVine’s return

A few weeks after the Bulls acquired LaVine, the third-year guard advised he was ahead of his rehab schedule and that he would be ready for training camp.

Based on those comments, some thought LaVine might actually be ready by the time the first game of the season rolled around. Don’t hold your breath though Bulls fans, because this will not be the case.

As excited as both sides are for LaVine to showcase what he brings to the table on a nightly basis, the front office is wisely approaching his return with a deliberate pace and refused to put a definitive timetable as to when LaVine could see his first action in a Bulls uniform.

"“We’re not going to rush Zach back,” Paxson told the Chicago Tribune. “But we’re also going to listen. When (doctors) say he’s ready to play or to practice, we’re going to allow him to do that. The one thing I’ve always found — and it’s big — is guys come back from an extended time out, especially coming off surgery, and when they get the OK they need to get in basketball condition. And that doesn’t happen overnight.”"

I’ve done my fair of criticizing Paxson and Gar Forman for some of the decisions they have made in recent years. But considering LaVine is the centerpiece of the Butler trade, the Bulls are definitely making the right decision to keep him on the shelf until he is 100 percent.