1. Kris Dunn, Point Guard
One of the most followed runs in free agency this coming offseason for the Bulls will be what happens with 6-foot-4 former Providence Friars point guard Kris Dunn. This defensive standout registered a career-best defensive rating of 106 this season to go along with a defensive box plus/minus rating of 3.1, and 2.0 defensive win shares.
We’re currently in the midst of Dunn’s final year of his rookie contract, and it didn’t seem like he was going to be kept around beyond the summer at the outset of the regular season. But the Bulls saw a newfound role for Dunn to fit into and saw him lead the NBA in steal rate at 3.8 percent.
The offensive game of Dunn didn’t improve much this season, but the defensive value that he brings to the table is very nice to have in certain situations. It’s hard to find a lengthy guard like Dunn who can come off the bench and play the role of defensive stopper as well as Dunn can. And his price tag shouldn’t be all that high in restricted free agency.
Before his season was ended due to a lower-body injury, Dunn played in 51 games. He averaged 7.3 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.0 steals, while shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 25.9 percent from beyond the arc. Somehow, Dunn was able to post a career-best 51.0 true shooting percentage while shooting around 25.0 percent from downtown.