Chicago Bulls: 4 free agents that’re better defenders than Garrett Temple

Free agent targets for the Chicago Bulls that are better defenders than Garrett Temple: Kris Dunn

There would likely be mixed reactions from Bulls fans if the front office went out and signed their former defensive stopper point guard Kris Dunn. This 27-year-old 6-foot-4 and 205-pound Atlanta Hawks point guard finally made his way back into the backcourt rotation with one of the surprise teams in the Eastern Conference this season in the stretch run.

Dunn was recovering from a knee injury that he originally suffered as a member of the Bulls last season with the Hawks for most of the 2020-21 campaign. He only got to play in four games during the regular season for the Hawks, and five games in the postseason.

But the impact that Dunn can truly bring to the table as a premier perimeter defender was really felt with the Hawks in limited action during the postseason.

Dunn averaged 5.5 rebounds per 36 minutes in the playoffs, 2.2 steals, and 2.2 blocks. That was good enough for him to register a stellar 4.9 defensive box plus/minus in his five games this postseason.

Moreover, Dunn is no stranger to posting a great defensive box plus/minus in recent seasons. In his final season with the Bulls, Dunn registered a career-best 3.1 defensive box plus/minus.

Considering that it looked like the Bulls had found the proper role for Dunn as more of a standout defender and combo guard to lock down on the perimeter, he could be a nice plug-and-play off the bench next season. And with the lack of exposure he got this season with the Hawks, if he comes available as an unrestricted free agent, he could come at a great value to this team.