Chicago Bulls: 3 reasons D’Angelo Russell should be a free agency target

2. Russell would be a massive upgrade over Dunn

This one’s easy: Russell already is what many hoped Dunn might be but likely won’t become as a franchise point guard. He’s an immensely talented, effective scorer and playmaker. Last season, Russell appeared in his first All-Star Game and there should be more in his future.

Dunn has struggled in his short career and may need yet another fresh start. If he’s moved this offseason, his new home would be his third in four seasons. To be fair, adapting to the NBA game can be difficult, especially for young guards, so the book isn’t closed on Dunn by any means. For the Bulls though, the focus is on the present.

Last season was a step in the wrong direction for the inconsistent Dunn. He averaged 11.3 points and 6.0 assists per game while shooting 42.5 percent from the field. His defense has been his calling card, but Dunn still posted a -7.8 net rating in 2018-19.

By comparison, Russell was a much more effective player, scoring 9.8 points more per game and posting a 53.3 true shooting percentage, compared to 48.4 percent for Dunn. Russell had a higher pace rating than Dunn (103.41 to 100.16) and had a higher Player Impact Estimate (14.1 to 8.4). Russell handled the ball at a much higher rate, with a 30.8 percent usage rate compared to 19.7 percent for Dunn.

As for defensive rating, Russell’s came in at 106.7, a whopping 6.4 points below Dunn’s 113.1.

Russell would give the Bulls something they’ve lacked since Derrick Rose‘s departure, a true star point guard capable of teaming with LaVine and Markkanen to form their own dynamic triumvirate.

Not only would he be a massive upgrade over Dunn, but he’d also give the Bulls an All-Star caliber point guard willing to take big shots in key moment — something Dunn hasn’t always embraced.