wall_glizzy wrote:prime1time wrote:I've been fascinated by Kris Dunn for a while, but I haven't been able to catch any Bulls games. What do you think about Dunn? He could be a solid player coming off the bench.
Hopefully, we make a run at Giles.
The man is just an absolute defensive savant, whether guarding 1-4 or playing as a free safety. He's pretty close to a non-factor, but since he's no longer being forced into the primary distributor role (which is what he was drafted, at #5, to be), he doesn't hurt you too much either - USG% and turnovers were down this season. I think he'd be absolutely perfect as a third guard to stagger with Wall and Beal, and he's young enough to still be a plus asset if we do end up bowing up the current core. He's got a little residual playmaking ability, too, and he's a plus rebounder, which is nice to have.
The Bulls would be fools not to keep him in my mind, but they've already got Lavine, Coby White, our old friend Sato, and Ryan Arcidiacono under contract at the position and there have been reports that the ownership group is tightening the belt for this next season despite the recent front office shake-up.
I know defense in the modern NBA is still all about the rim protector, which I'd still classify as our greatest need going into this offseason, but I think Dunn's about as impactful as a guard can be on that end. Sure everybody looks great in their highlights, but check this out (and keep in mind that it covers a little less than a month of this past season):
I'd find it really easy to cheer for Kris Dunn. And I'd bank on our shooting gurus to build him a useable jumpshot with improved range. His defense however is superlative. For a team that needs role models on that end I think his addition would prove an accelerant to help our defense catch fire.
I'd disagree that D is about rim protection. Defense in the NBA nowadays is more about team scheme and switchability. Consider the Draymond led defenses in GState. Draymond was nothing like an intimidating rim protector, but he played the angles well, especially in the Pick and Roll. The best rim protector in the game is Rudy Gobert and he has trouble staying on the floor in the post season.
Teams that win are able to choke off the ball at the point of attack, challenge the outside shot, prevent ball entry, and close the lanes quickly. Teams that can afford to switch every pick with long rangy versatile defenders have an easier job of the above.
Dunn would seem to me to be a great fit for a team like ours that has trouble with perimeter defense. Chiefly for his ability to stall the ball handler and force it out of the hands of their primary attacker. In pace and space era if you can slow their uptempo attack you can give your team time to recover. Yes we need a Big who can clog lanes and snatch boards, but on the outside we need exactly what Dunn brings, not just on the court or late game situational defense, but as an example in practice and as recognition that this team needs to emphasize playing hard at that end. Right now even if our Coach wanted to yank a player for playing lax defense we don't have the counter example to stick in the game to show how it is done. Kris would be how it gets Dunn.
Coach Thibodeaux would love a player like this in New York. He won with Rondo playing a similar role.














