NEWSLETTER
Yesterday, Bulls Head Coach Jim Boylen announced that Tomas Satoransky would take over as the team’s starting point guard when the season tips off next Wednesday, officially sending Kris Dunn to the bench.
Ahead of tonight’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks, we got to hear from Dunn on the team’s position change, and although you can probably ascertain his true feelings, you have to admire his professionalism: “Just being positive, cheering guys on. Just bringing my energy,” Dunn told K.C. Johnson and fellow media. “You need (depth) in the league. There are going to be games where the starters come out flat and the second unit is going to have to pick it up and allow them to come back in and finish the game. Just having depth is a good thing because injuries occur. You need backups you can trust.”
Dunn has been asked plenty about his potential benching this offseason, and I’ve been impressed with his ability to continually share positive remarks. If that were me, I’d probably be super passive-aggressive about everything. “It’s nice how we’re giving Satoransky a chance, we don’t want him to feel bad. He’s a good guy.”
The job felt like it was out the door for Dunn when the Bulls added Coby White during the draft and Satoransky in free agency, and while he mentioned he wasn’t going to speak directly on that situation, he did share with reporters that he loves the new role the coaching staff has put him in.
It’s hard to imagine Dunn isn’t feeling a bit annoyed with the whole situation, but I think he understands responding with grace is in his – and the team’s – best interest. While the trade rumors have died down considerably as the season nears, you have to imagine the Bulls will start shopping Dunn (at least quietly) once the regular season is in full swing. Moving him to the bench and selling him as a defensive specialist could definitely help improve his trade value.
As for the rest of the team, we’ll better start to understand everyone’s role tonight as Boylen attempts to mimic a regular-season performance. If you ask the head coach, the winning mindset starts tonight.
“I’ve let our team know that we are going to finish the game with the guys that help us win the game…it’s about winning the game and playing the right way.” – Coach Boylen pic.twitter.com/qiL82lVMOD
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) October 17, 2019
According to Johnson, the Bulls starters will see four separate stints against the Hawks. And included in all of those stints should be Wendell Carter Jr., who’s expected to receive around 24 minutes after playing only 16 against the Toronto Raptors.
With the regular season under a week away, the Bulls are starting to put all their pieces into place! I’m not going to lie, I like how things are looking.
