The now former Chicago Bulls defensive standout point guard Kris Dunn was a pretty huge steal for the Atlanta Hawks in free agency.
NBA free agency seemingly came and went just as fast as the 2020 NBA Draft within the past week, but there is still a lot to go down before the market wraps up ahead of Training Camp. The Chicago Bulls have largely seen most of the action in the free agent market already happen, but there could still be a few more dominoes to fall.
One former Bull that hit the free agent market this offseason wound up being a complete steal for another Eastern Conference foe. Former Minnesota Timberwolves and Bulls defensive stopper point guard Kris Dunn signed down with the Atlanta Hawks on a two-year contract worth around $10 million.
It’s hard to believe that newly hired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas wouldn’t want to bring back Dunn if that’s all of the price tag it took to get him back in the mix. Dunn was an impending restricted free agent as last season was the final year of his rookie contract.
Free agent guard Kris Dunn has agreed to a two-year, $10M deal with the Atlanta Hawks, sources tell ESPN. Player option on the second year.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 21, 2020
You could argue that last season was Dunn’s best in his four-year NBA career to date. He excelled out of the gates in a new found role off the bench under former Bulls head coach Jim Boylen. His offensive production and efficiency still lacked in certain ways, but his defensive game reached new heights.
Dunn is definitely one of the best perimeter defenders in today’s NBA, and he averaged two steals per game, with a league-leading 3.8 percent steal rate. He also registered a sparkling 3.1 defensive box plus/minus rating last season.
Moreover, Dunn now joins a Hawks backcourt rotation that has a very different look to it heading into the 2020-21 season. The Hawks now have two former Bulls point guards backing up star Trae Young in the rotation. They signed former Los Angeles Lakers NBA Champion and veteran point guard Rajon Rondo to help “Ice Trae”, along with some defensive assistance with Dunn.
The Hawks also upgraded their rotation from the top-down, with the signing of former Oklahoma City Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari, to likely play on the wing between John Collins and Kevin Huerter. Tony Snell, rookie Onyeka Okongwu, and Clint Capela, are also additions ranging from free agency to the draft, to the last calendar year on the trade market to help bolster the rotation.
Atlanta and Chicago were in similar spots in the Eastern Conference standings last season. But the roster the Hawks are assembling now looks to be very formidable and one that should be expected to complete for a mid-to-lower seed in the playoff picture in the East next season.
The Bulls finished up the 2019-20 shortened regular season in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic with a record of 22-43, good for 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings. They head into the 2020-21 season with largely the same looking roster as last season.