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Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball (knee) exercised his $21.4 million option for the 2024-25 campaign. This was expected, especially since the 2017 No. 2 overall pick has been sidelined by a left knee injury for over two years. During his time away, he's undergone three surgeries to address the issue, including a cartilage transplant. Ball most recently played 35 games for the Bulls after being traded by the Pelicans and posted some of his best numbers, averaging 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting a career-high 42.3% from behind the arc. With that said, the 26-year-old doesn't have a return date. But even if he gets back on the floor at some point, it could take him a while to work his way up to full speed. The risk of re-injury and potential decreased production will also be factors for fantasy managers to consider, even if there is a positive update regarding his health at some point in the next few months.
Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso was awarded the NBA's Hustle Award on Thursday afternoon. Always known for his effort and grit, the 30-year-old earned recognition for what he brings to the court consistently. For the season, Caruso averaged 10.1 points per game but made his biggest impact on the defensive end by averaging one block and 1.7 steals per game. He made the All-Defensive first team last season and now has been rewarded for his hustle in 2024. Finishing in second place in the voting was Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, and Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski came in third place.
Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan scored a team-high 22 points in Friday's Play-In loss to the Miami Heat. Despite the veteran's solid showing, the Bulls lost to a Miami team that didn't have Jimmy Butler (knee) or Terry Rozier (neck). With another season in the books, DeRozan will hit the open market this summer. But he's still productive as ever, ending the 2023-24 campaign with averages of 24.0 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.3 rebounds. The 34-year-old also played more minutes this season than anyone in the National Basketball Association. However, DeRozan has made it known he wants to win, so he may have played his final game with the Bulls.
Chicago Bulls center Andre Drummond (ankle) is available for Friday's matchup with the Heat. The veteran injured his ankle toward the end of the regular season and missed some games. Yet, he was back on the floor for the win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. While Drummond only logged 11 minutes, he made the most of his limited workload, finishing with four points, four rebounds, three blocks, and one steal. Nonetheless, while Nikola Vucevic should absorb most of the minutes in the middle on Friday evening, Drummond has value for DFS managers on a night that features just two games across the National Basketball Association.
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (quadriceps) will play on Friday versus the Miami Heat. The 24-year-old missed the last four games of the regular season with a quad injury. But he was back in the lineup for Wednesday's Play-In win over the Atlanta Hawks. Dosunmu looked good in that one, ending the night with 19 points and two blocks in 41 minutes of work. It appears Billy Donovan may continue to give the starting lineup plenty of minutes against the Heat, which isn't a bad thing for DFS managers.