The Chicago Bulls approached the trade deadline with a clear focus on improving their chances in the upcoming draft lottery, making several moves aimed more at long-term positioning than immediate roster improvement.
One exception was the acquisition of Jaden Ivey, which stood out as a move intended to add a potential building block for the future rather than simply reshaping assets.
However, Ivey’s recent injury concerns have complicated that plan, particularly with free agency approaching.
As Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune explains, questions remain about how his recovery from knee and leg injuries will impact both his performance and contract outlook.
Ivey himself has acknowledged that his body has not fully felt the same since the setbacks, creating some uncertainty about his trajectory.
Despite those concerns, there is cautious optimism within the organization.
Head coach Billy Donovan expressed confidence that physical development and conditioning could help Ivey regain the athleticism that once defined his game.
“There’s a feeling that if he can get some more strength back then he can get back to where he was athletically,” Donovan said.
“He knows that he’s not as explosive as he once was, but I don’t think that means that he can’t get back to that point. A big part of that is going to be him getting stronger.”
Former Ivey’s coach J.B. Bickerstaff agreed but stressed that regaining confidence mentally is just as important as physical recovery, calling trust the biggest challenge for explosive athletes returning from injury.
“We expected a full recovery, but the timing you never know; it’s something you can never know,” Bickerstaff said.
“And then the part for him is believing and trusting in it. That happens with the injury, too, especially when you’re explosive and your athleticism is so unique. You’ve got to find that trust back in it.”
Bulls Notes: Simons, Ivey, Huerter, Tanking https://t.co/o4MxIWWkaf pic.twitter.com/ikcGxfdqH4
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) February 23, 2026
