The “dog’’ still was barking as the Bulls’ season came to another unimpressive ending.
The problem is, the “dog’’ still was not biting.
At least not as advertised when Kris Dunn initially came over from the Timberwolves in the Jimmy Butler rebuild trade package.
Too many injuries for the third-year player, too many inconsistent games for a player chosen fifth overall in the 2016 draft, and way too many turnovers for an effective point guard at the NBA level.
“I’m a dog,’’ Dunn said in his final meeting with the media last month, when asked what his attitude will be if the front office adds another point guard this summer. “I don’t run from nothing.’’
That mentality undoubtedly will be tested.
Whether it’s in the June draft, a trade for Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball — as the Sun-Times first reported would be explored — or free agency, an upgrade at that position is inevitable.
So how exactly did Dunn go from “core player’’ to fading prospect in less than two seasons?
There’s not one clear answer, as much as a perfect storm of bad.
Availability
As many scouts like to say, the best ability for a young NBA player is availability. Since coming over from the Timberwolves and playing 78 games his rookie season, Dunn has become injury-prone.
Whether it was an ankle, a knee, back spasms, or landing on his face as he did on a dunk in the 2017-18 season, Dunn has missed 66 games in his two seasons with the Bulls.
“Definitely disappointing,’’ Dunn said of all the setbacks. “I just charge it to the game. Just hope that next season I can be more healthy.’’
Dunn is by no means the only member of the original core to miss playing time, but when his play dips to such low extremes when he does return, it stands out.
Knowing his role
There was almost a month during the 2017-18 season in which Dunn looked like an absolute keeper. With Zach LaVine still sidelined, Dunn and Lauri Markkanen helped the Bulls go 13-7, as Dunn averaged 14.9 points and 8.0 assists in December, and then 14.7 points and 7.4 assists in January.
More importantly, Dunn was closing out games with not only his shot-making, but decision-making. Then came the Jan. 17 game against the Warriors when he landed on his face, was sidelined for almost a month, and the inconsistencies started.
This past season was supposed to be a reboot, but after Dunn injured his knee to start the regular season, LaVine essentially took over the ballhandling duties, especially late in games. So when Dunn did get back, he looked lost in his role.
After Jim Boylen took over the coaching seat from Fred Hoiberg on Dec. 3, that was compounded even more, with the Bulls eventually adding Otto Porter in a trade and going with an offensive push with multiple ballhandlers.
Dunn often was forced to play off the ball, where he isn’t comfortable, and he definitely isn’t a threat to opposing defenses as an outside shooter.
“That’s just how I play since I was yay high,’’ Dunn said about having the ball in his hands. “If I knew we were going to do multi-ballhandlers I would have prepped for that last summer.’’
Bad news for Dunn — the offense with multiple ballhandlers is here to stay.
Outside noise
Dunn admittedly was angered by a Sun-Times story last offseason in which a source told the paper he had a few offseason workout days that were less than stellar.
The feeling was Dunn was upset that the organization was looking at players such as Trae Young and Collin Sexton in the 2018 draft and that put Dunn in pouting mode at the time.
Maybe that dented his loyalty to the front office, because he certainly was shorter with the media throughout the season. Either way, he had no problem expressing the cold truth about how he was feeling.
“It’s a business, and they’re going to do what they could do,’’ Dunn said of his attitude toward the Bulls and their commitment to him. “I’m just going to control what I can control.’’
An upgrade is coming at that spot. It will be up to Dunn to prove everyone wrong. Barking time is over.