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The Chicago Bulls do not plan on extending a qualifying offer to RFA G Kris Dunn, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reported Monday evening. Dunn can now become an unrestricted free agent on Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET. He is expected to draw interest from the Los Angeles Clippers, per the report. The Bulls do plan on extending the QO to SG/SF Denzel Valentine, who was set to become a restricted free agent.
Dunn, 26, was once viewed as a future piece of the Bulls’ backcourt after being acquired in the Jimmy Butler trade from Minnesota. Dunn was a lottery pick by the Timberwolves back in 2016. He was acquired along with Zach LaVine and the pick that turned into Lauri Markkanen for Butler, who stuck it to both franchises basically. Dunn, while a decent defender, never really developed into a starting caliber guard. So the Bulls are fine letting him walk knowing that Coby White and LaVine will likely hold down the backcourt this upcoming season.
The Bulls will also opt not to extend a qualifying option to G Shaq Harrison, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. So Chicago is willing to let Harrison and Dunn walk and retain Valentine, which leaves the backcourt a bit thin. That could be a precursor of who the Bulls are eyeing in the NBA Draft on Wednesday. At pick No. 4, the Bulls could add G Tyrese Haliburton out of Iowa State. If LaMelo Ball drops, he could also be targeted as well as G/F Deni Avdija.