Chicago Bulls: 3 goals for the 2019 NBA offseason

1. Solve the point guard dilemma

This one is obvious and hardly a secret. Kris Dunn may be the most embattled starting guard in the association this offseason. In two seasons in Chicago, he’s yet to prove he’s a starting-caliber lead guard. The reality is, his time is likely up in Chicago, at least as the starter.

Dunn has struggled mightily to be the playmaker many had expected him to be when he was selected fifth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2016 NBA Draft. He averaged 11.3 points and 6.0 assists per game in 46 contests in 2018-19.

While his turnovers were down from the previous season, from 2.9 to 2.3 per game, Dunn struggled once again with his shot, posting a true shooting percentage of 48.4 percent.

The good thing for Chicago is, despite their hopes for Ja Morant and possibly even Darius Garland being dashed after pulling up seventh in the NBA Draft Lottery, there are still plenty of intriguing options available.

The Bulls could go young and pursue their next “point guard of the future” via the draft, where North Carolina’s Coby White could still be available with the seventh pick. At 6’5″, White can push the ball and has a streaky shot from the outside. However, he’s more of a scoring guard than a lead guard.

If they decide to go with a veteran leader, Mike Conley of the Memphis Grizzlies should be available, per The New York Times‘ Marc Stein. Conley represents the quickest option for the Bulls to get back to the playoffs. However, he’ll be entering his 13th NBA season with a contract that will pay him $32.5 million next season and $34.5 million in 2020-21.

Of course, rumors are swirling about the Bulls’ interest in Los Angeles Lakers young point guard Lonzo Ball. It remains to be seen whether the Lakers’ recent hire of Jason Kidd as lead assistant coach will alter Ball’s trade market.

Besides Ball, discussions centering around Boston’s Terry Rozier have gotten louder in recent weeks, according to The Athletic‘s Darnell Mayberry. With Rozier, it’s hard to know which player the Bulls would get — the one who shined in last year’s playoffs, or the sulking and slumping player from this season.

Other options include New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday, Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley and Malcolm Brogdon of the Milwaukee Bucks.

Whatever happens this offseason for the Chicago Bulls, the most important goal will be to establish a starter at point guard. It’s one of the worst kept secrets in the league. Team success is dictated by the quality of their guard play, so if 22-60 is any indication, the Bulls need an upgrade.

It should happen this summer.