Will Zach Lavine's Left Knee Hold Up For The Duration Of His Max Contract?

The Bulls reportedly signed shooting guard Zach Lavine to a five-year, $215.2 million deal on Friday, the largest contract in franchise history. 

The 27-year-old had a breakout 2021-22 season, averaging 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on the way to his first career playoff appearance. 

He did so while battling lingering left knee soreness for the second half of the season that required around-the-clock treatment and led to arthroscopic surgery in May. 

According to the ProBasketballDocs, Lavine’s next five years will feature consistent knee management and possibly more minor scopes and pockets of time missed while dealing with osteoarthritis. 

At this moment, Lavine has an SIC health score of 90, the highest score he can have with his left knee problems and a number that will drop throughout the season due to the wear-and-tear on his knee. 

The two-time all-star suffered a torn left ACL in February 2017, one year after his show-stopping dunk contest battle with Aaron Gordon, and the recovery process dragged through the 2017-18 season. 

Once a player tears an ACL they become more susceptible to issues down the road. Typically, once those issues begin they stay with the player for the duration of their career.

Lavine and the Bulls' 2021-22 season was knocked off-kilter when he tweaked his left knee taking in an offensive rebound on January 14. 

An MRI came back structurally sound but Lavine missed 13 of the final 42 games. Lavine had his left knee drained of fluid multiple times and got at least one PRP injection over this period of games. 

His production and efficiency dropped after January 14 from elite to solid: his points per game dipped from 25.6 to 19.3 and his field goal percentage fell from 49.1% to 42.9%. 

This particular journey is likely on the severe end of the spectrum and, while Lavine may not battle this level of soreness again, he will have problems, a scary thought for a player still in the middle of his athletic prime. 

Chicago's medical staff and management have clearly given Lavine's knee and its ability to perform into his age-32 season a massive vote of confidence.

But that knee will require specialized care and likely has it's best days behind it.