MIAMI – Kris Dunn has bought in.
The Bulls guard insisted he had in the preseason, but talking it and walking it are two very different things. Especially for a guy that the organization had feared was all but checked out following his exit meeting last April.
That’s when the front office informed Dunn that point guards would be brought in to compete for his starting job over the summer, as the idea of him still being considered part of the rebuild core was all but dead.
But there he was on Sunday, doing whatever role has been asked of him, and actually doing so at a high level. Not the high level of what the Bulls originally thought Dunn was when they initially traded for him back in 2017, but what’s been salvaged from a season that could have really gone the wrong way for Dunn and his coaching staff.
“Kris Dunn brings a selflessness, a tough-minded guy that has great role acceptance, and is connected to me all the time,’’ coach Jim Boylen said. “I think that’s important. Him and I have a great relationship, he knows what I want from him. He tries not to be someone he’s not, and there’s value in that. I also think he relishes when his teammates have success. I like guys like that.’’
Like them enough to again start Dunn against the Heat, as Boylen was still forced to go with a three-guard attack with his short-handed forward spot remaining an issue.
All Dunn was asked to do against Miami? Play the combo-guard, remain the best perimeter defender on the roster, and slow down former Bull Jimmy Butler as much as possible.
“Whatever the coaching staff asks me to do I‘m going to do it,’’ Dunn said once again.
That’s kind of been his go-to line most of the season. But it’s not just words for him. Boylen asked him to be a disruptor on defense, and Dunn entered the day ranked fifth in the NBA in steals per game with 2.0. All four players in front of him? Regular starters getting heavy minutes. Dunn’s doing most of his dirty work as a reserve.
“I’m going to go out there and play hard for my guys, play defense, rebound,’’ Dunn said. “Try and do a little bit of everything, kind of like a Swiss army knife.’’
Like Denzel Valentine, Dunn’s future with the Bulls is very much up in the air. They could make a financial commitment to him this offseason, and hope he continues to embrace that Marcus Smart role, playing defensive nuisance off the bench.
Or just maybe they move on from Dunn.
For now, however, he’s all in, and it’s not just talk.
Speaking of …
When Chandler Hutchison is able to get back from a bruised shoulder, he will likely go back to being a starter, moving Dunn back to his reserve role.
The when for the second-year forward remains the question.
He at least sounded close to returning, as of Sunday.
“Chandler is more active than he’s been,’’ Boylen said. “He had a good on-court workout [Sunday]. It seems each day the shoulder gets less sore, more loose. I thought his body language when I spoke to him in our meeting was as good as its been, so you could see in a guy’s eyes if he’s starting to get confidence in his recovery, and I think Hutch is starting to get confidence in his recovery, which makes me really happy.’’
The Bulls did get some help at the forward spot, with veteran Thaddeus Young back in the mix. He left the team for several days because of personal reasons.
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Kris Dunn’s future as a Bull is in the air, but he’s more than present - Chicago Sun-Times
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