The Chicago Bulls are hitting the road for a pair of games on the East Coast to open 2024. When they visit the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks, a few players will remain in Chicago. All the Bulls not attending are working toward returning from injuries.

Zach LaVine has been sidelined with right foot inflammation for the past month. Now in the final steps of rehabilitation, he was assigned to the Windy City Bulls on Monday so he can practice while the Bulls are gone.

Nikola Vucevic is out with a left adductor injury. The big man’s return timeline was 7-10 days, putting his window for return starting when the Bulls return from their road trip.

Torrey Craig is in the worst shape of the three. The veteran forward is nursing a right plantar fascia sprain that will keep him on the shelf for the foreseeable future. When the Bulls announced Craig’s injury on Dec. 19, they gave him a 4-6-week timeline.

Despite these absences, the Bulls have proven they can beat anyone. But with a busier schedule in January and February, the Bulls will need depth if they intend to continue climbing the standings further into the NBA playoff picture.