Deng injury update

The Bulls have publicly described Luol Deng's leg injury as an "early" stress fracture, but the milder impression that leaves would appear to be mere semantics.

After consultation earlier this week with a specialist Deng sought on his own revealed a stress fracture, further consultation with an orthopedic specialist is expected early next week, likely leaving Deng and the Bulls looking at four courses of treatment to deal with what's been plaguing his right leg for the past few weeks:

1. Deng coming back to the Bulls' lineup after a period of further rest and trying to play through the injury for the rest of the season before undergoing surgery.

2. Deng playing through the pain for the rest of the season and then trying to let it heal without surgery.

3. Deng undergoing season-ending surgery immediately.

4. Deng bypassing surgery but also halting his season to try to recover through rest, which would likely require at least three months away from the game.

It's believed that Deng will try to stay off the leg for two or three weeks, then attempt to come back for the last few weeks of the season to see if he can help the Bulls snag one of the last two playoff spots in the East.

If there's no progress this month, since trying to play through a stress fracture on weight-bearing leg might not be possible, surgery would appear to be unavoidable.