CHICAGO (CBS) -- Zach LaVine is another step closer to returning to the Bulls.

The All-Star guard was assigned to the Windy City Bulls of the G League to go through a contact practice for the first time since being sidelined with a right foot injury.

The Bulls have been playing well in LaVine's absence - going 10-5 since late November.

Back in early December, the Bulls were reportedly looking into trades for LaVine – and the injury was not helpful to that cause. LaVine is in the second year of a five-year, $215 million max contract that will likely scare some teams off in this new, second-apron world the league's highest-spending organizations are about to enter.

On Tuesday, the Bulls open a two-game road trip as they take on the Philadelphia 76ers.