The Chicago Bulls announced Monday that Denzel Valentine is suffering from ongoing ankle instability and will undergo surgery that will keep him out for four to six months.

That's a tough blow for the rebuilding Bulls. Valentine was an integral part of their roster last season, and they were hoping he could build off this progress. Unfortunately, left ankle issues have kept Valentine sidelined since the start of training camp, and this latest news is the worst-case scenario for Valentine and the Bulls.

Chicago has had to deal with its fair share of injuries in this young season. Lauri Markkanen, Bobby Portis, and Kris Dunn have all missed time as well. As a result, the Bulls are a paltry 4-13 and sit in the depths of the Eastern Conference standings. The expectations coming into the season weren't high, but the slow start has to be taking a toll on the Bulls nonetheless.

There are some positives to glean from Chicago's season thus far. The early returns on Zach LaVine are promising. After signing the high-flying shooting guard to a fat contract this past summer, he's playing the best basketball of his career.

The rebuild won't be easy, but the Bulls are playing the long game. Hopefully, Denzel Valentine will be healthy for the start of next season and can bounce back.