Kris Dunn’s future as a Bull is in the air, but he’s more than present

This season could have gone very wrong for Dunn and the franchise that traded for him in 2017, but the two seem to be in sync on his role and his strengths. Now, will it keep him a Bull?

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MIAMI — Kris Dunn has bought in.

The Bulls guard insisted he had in the preseason, but talking it and walking it are two very different things. Especially for a player who the organization feared was all but checked out following his exit meeting in April. That’s when the front office informed Dunn that point guards would be brought in to compete for his starting job, thus seemingly ending his stay as part of the rebuilding core.

But there he was Sunday, doing whatever was asked of him and doing so at a high level. It isn’t the level the Bulls thought they were getting when they traded for him back in 2017, but it’s what has been salvaged from a season that really could have gone the wrong way for Dunn and the coaching staff.

“Kris Dunn brings a selflessness, a tough-minded guy that has great role acceptance and is connected to me all the time,’’ coach Jim Boylen said. “I think that’s important. Him and I have a great relationship. He knows what I want from him. He tries not to be someone he’s not, and there’s value in that. I also think he relishes when his teammates have success. I like guys like that.’’

He liked Dunn enough to start him against the Heat, but Boylen still is forced to go with a three-guard attack because the short-handed forward spot remains an issue.

Against the Heat, Dunn was asked to play the combo-guard, remain the best perimeter defender on the roster, and slow down former Bull Jimmy Butler as much as possible.

“Whatever the coaching staff asks me to do I’m going to do it,’’ said Dunn, who totaled 16 points, five rebounds and three steals in 34 minutes before fouling out.

That has kind of been his go-to line most of the season. But it’s not just words. Boylen asked him to be a disrupter on defense, and Dunn entered the day ranked fifth in the NBA in steals per game with 2.0. The four players ahead of him are regular starters getting heavy minutes. Dunn’s doing most of his dirty work as a reserve.

“I’m going to go out there and play hard for my guys, play defense, rebound,’’ Dunn said. “Try and do a little bit of everything, kind of like a Swiss army knife.’’

Like Denzel Valentine, Dunn’s future with the Bulls is up in the air. They could make a financial commitment to him this offseason and hope he continues to embrace that Marcus Smart role, being a defensive nuisance off the bench. Or maybe the Bulls move on from Dunn. For now, however, he’s all in, and it’s not just talk.

Speaking of . . .

When Chandler Hutchison (bruised shoulder) is able to return, he likely will return to the starting lineup, shifting Dunn back to his reserve role.

But when the second-year forward will return remains a question. On Sunday, he at least sounded close to returning.

“Chandler is more active than he’s been,’’ Boylen said. “He had a good on-court workout [Sunday]. It seems each day the shoulder gets less sore, more loose. I thought his body language when I spoke to him in our meeting was as good as it’s been, so you could see in a guy’s eyes if he’s starting to get confidence in his recovery, and I think Hutch is starting to get confidence in his recovery, which makes me really happy.’’

The Bulls did get some help at forward, with veteran Thaddeus Young returning and scoring 12 points in 23 minutes after missing several days for personal reasons.

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