The Chicago Bulls should bring back Kris Dunn

The Chicago Bulls should bring back the defensive specialist.

The Chicago Bulls have a lot of important decisions to make this offseason. Perhaps none is more important than the decision pending on the future of head coach Jim Boylen. However, once made, the front office, including Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley, will shift their attention completely to the makeup of the current roster.

It remains to be seen what kind of “game” the front office envisions this team playing. Fans will get more clarity on that question when the team makes a decision on the new head coach and can dissect what style of play the front office wants to play.

Once that decision is made, they will no doubt make roster decisions based on who fits and who does not fit that style of play.

However, one type of player who never goes out of style and is necessary in any system you run is a lockdown defender. Someone like Kris Dunn, the former Providence College star and No. 5 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

While his offensive game has not developed at the rate the Bulls would have liked, there is no denying he is an elite defender in the league, and only getting better. Last year he shot only 44 percent from the field but was shooting at a 53 percent clip inside the three-point line. It was behind the arc where Dunn struggled at 26 percent to bring his overall shooting percentage down.

But defensively, he was a menace. Last season, he recorded two steals per game, which was 2nd in the league. He also finished with 101 total steals (4th) and a steal percentage of 3.8 (1st). His defensive plus/minus last year was good for 2nd in the NBA at 3.1.

So for the right price, the Bulls must do everything they can to bring Dunn back. The obvious question then becomes, ‘what is the right price?’

Based on some prorated adjustments resulting from COVID-19, the average starts needed to be eligible for the higher qualifying offer was dropped to 36.75, which Dunn exceeded at 38. That increased his qualifying offer from $4.6 million to $7.1 million.

Perhaps the Bulls conclude that $7.1 million is too rich for their blood and don’t extend the qualifying offer. If so, it would be understandable, but they should think long and hard about it first. In the event they don’t extend the offer, they should still do everything they can to bring him back. Someone with his skill set can be very valuable on a team who, without him, lacks any kind of defensive identity.