Could Boston Be a Fit for Kris Dunn?
The former Friar All American just picked up his player option for 2020-21, but could be on the block.
In what came as a surprise to few NBA followers, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that Kris Dunn picked up his $5 million player option for the 2020-21 season.
The move was a no-brainer for Dunn, who had ankle surgery prior to the beginning of this past season — one in which he missed the first 61 games of the year while recovering. Dunn has battled injuries throughout his NBA career, playing in just nine games last year, and not appearing in more than 52 games since his rookie campaign in 2016-17.
The hope in Atlanta was that Dunn would serve as a defensive specialist following a season in which he was just one of two players in the league to average over two steals per game (Dunn did so in fewer than 25 minutes a night). He was beginning to earn the reputation as one of the league’s best defensive guards before missing virtually all of this past season.
Dunn’s best year as a pro came in his second season in 2017-18, when he averaged 13.4 points, 6.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.0 steals a game. His offensive numbers have decreased in each passing season, however.
Atlanta is Dunn’s third club. He spent his rookie season in Minnesota after being drafted fifth overall in 2016, then spent three seasons in Chicago.
Despite opting in, Dunn could be on the move once again this summer. The Hawks made a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals, and have a few critical free agents they are looking to retain, including power forward John Collins, who shined during the 2021 playoffs. Collins is due for a huge contract.
Where would that leave Dunn? In a league loaded with point guards, opportunities are difficult to come by — especially with Dunn’s injury history and .305 career three point shooting percentage.
Even with his injury history and inconsistent jumper, $5 million is a relative bargain for a player who just missed out on All Defensive team honors the last time he was healthy (10 players make the team, and Dunn finished 11th in voting in 2020).
Both of this year’s NBA finalists could be options, as both Milwaukee Bucks’ backup point guard Jeff Teague and Phoenix Suns’ backup Cameron Payne will enter free agency. Phoenix will also hold their breath until Chris Paul resigns.
Two other potential options for Dunn would be Denver, where Nuggets star Jamal Murray will miss a portion of next season recovering from a knee injury, and Boston.
The Celtics make sense for a couple of reasons: Boston’s defensive numbers really dipped in 2020-21, and Dunn would be a defensive upgrade over any guard not named Marcus Smart on their roster.
Brad Stevens is facing a good deal of instability at point guard. Kemba Walker has been dealt, and Stevens must decide if he wants to extend Smart this summer as well. Currently, Boston’s only point guards are Smart and Payton Pritchard, who excelled offensively, but was exposed on defense in the playoffs.
Boston is somewhat hamstrung financially this summer, but they do have a trade exception of roughly five million dollars from their trade of Enes Kanter last summer — a trade exception that would allow them to acquire Dunn in a salary dump, if Atlanta was so inclined.
Early in Stevens’ tenure as head coach he helped turn around the careers of players like Evan Turner, Jae Crowder, and Jordan Crawford. Perhaps as an executive he might see Dunn, on a good contract, as a worthwhile risk for a club with limited financial options looking to rediscover its defensive identity.
For Dunn, a Boston team lacking on playmakers, stoppers, and point guards would be as good an opportunity as any in the league.