Chicago Bulls: Kris Dunn passing on voluntary group workouts
The Chicago Bulls officially began involuntary group workouts earlier this month, but that won’t include point guard Kris Dunn.
The impending restricted free agent point guard and former Providence Friar Kris Dunn is one of the bigger focal points of the 2020 offseason. Dunn might be the most high-profile impending free agent for the Chicago Bulls this offseason. He’ll be set to get at least starter-level money for his qualifying offer in restricted free agency. But he was likely to get at least 6-10 million in free agency this offseason anyways.
Dunn does need to continue improving his remodeled offensive game and excel as a perimeter defender. No one should be doubting Dunn as one of the top perimeter defenders in the NBA. But he has a long ways to go to become an effective point guard on the offensive end of the floor.
Given the need for Dunn to improve so much on offense, it would be good to see him putting in as much work as possible this offseason. The Bulls haven’t played in a single game since mid-March, when the pause was put in place in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Voluntary group workouts began for the “Delete Eight” earlier this month. But not all players on the eight teams that didn’t get to participate in the restart at the bubble in Disney World will participate. According to a report from K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago on Sep. 21, Dunn will not be participating in the group workouts with the Bulls at the Advocate Center (starting this month).
A cited reason for Dunn not participating in group workouts was the knee injury he sustained back in January. While he is rehabbing after the injury, the official status of his timeline is still uncertain. There’s not a great reason to rush him back given the circumstances.
Dunn was a top five pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2016 NBA Draft, and then landed with the Bulls soon thereafter. He was part of that trade that sent Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine to the Bulls for Jimmy Butler.
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Most of the looming free agent decisions the Bulls have to make this offseason are with guards deeper down the bench, also including Adam Mokoka, Denzel Valentine, and Shaquille Harrison. Dunn was the most integral to the Bulls rotation last season, and his free agency decision is a critical one.