Mike Dunleavy is finally going to get his chance to play for the Chicago Bulls this year.
Since undergoing back surgery in September, he has been in recovery and only recently dubbed himself 100-percent healthy. Now he’s going from Santa Cruz to Chicago to help the ailing Bulls get back on track, per Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports.
The Bulls are in a terrible slump right now, having lost nine of 13 games. Veteran center Pau Gasol called out his teammates after shootaround on Wednesday morning, saying selfishness is a problem.
Perhaps another savvy veteran who has never been accused of playing selfish ball can help Chicago get back on track.
Dunleavy, 35, has been a solid scoring option throughout his 13-year career, during which time he’s averaged 11.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
He was a strong contributor for the Bulls last year, averaging 29-plus minutes per game while averaging 9.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. A guy who can always be counted on to splash from behind the arc, he should be able to help space the floor and keep things cohesive on the offensive side.
On defense, while Dunleavy has never been considered elite, he has plenty of experience guarding the top small forwards in the league.
The Bulls need all the help they can get right now to avoid slumping out of the playoffs. They are only two games ahead of the No. 9 seed right now with less than half a season remaining.