Ball (knee) has picked up the $21.4 million player option in his contract for the 2024-25 season, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

There is optimism that Ball (knee) will be able to play next season, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball (knee) has begun cutting, sprinting and jumping in controlled, non-contact situations, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball (knee) isn't experiencing pain during his day-to-day activities, which include a lot of mobility work, but he hasn't resumed sprinting yet, Ryan Taylor of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Ball (knee) is expected to return to running in January, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports. "The pain that he was experiencing has been eliminated," coach Billy Donovan said of Ball on Thursday.

Ball (knee) said Monday that he's about halfway through the rehab process for the cartilage transplant surgery he underwent in March and is optimistic that he'll be able to continue his career, despite having already been ruled out for the 2023-24 season, ESPN.com reports. "I definitely plan on playing again," Ball said at the Bulls' media day. "After surgery three, I feel like it's going well so far -- no setbacks. So for me, it's just keep my head up, just keep doing the work."

Ball (knee) said during a recent podcast appearance that he'll miss the 2023-24 season, Jamal Collier of ESPN.com reports.

Ball underwent cartilage transplant surgery on his left knee Monday, Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Ball will undergo a third procedure on his left knee -- a cartilage transplant -- and is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2023-24 season, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

Ball faces a "growing possibility" of requiring a third surgical procedure on his left knee, which would likely include an additional six months of rehab and recovery time, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.