TORONTO — In his 13th NBA season, Thad Young has seen some things.
But the Bulls’ veteran forward couldn’t recall a game beginning like Friday night’s did. Young’s head smashed into Kris Dunn’s right knee after Young drew a charge from the Nets’ Joe Harris just 13 seconds after tipoff, knocking Dunn from the game---and beyond.
A positive turning into a negative is some kind of metaphor for this season.
“We’re definitely heartbroken by him being injured,” Young said. “I feel bad because I was the guy who fell back on him.
“I think the only time I’ve seen something that’s happened like that is Myles (Turner) stepped on a ball and rolled his ankle before the game started and couldn’t play. But other than that, I’ve never seen that before. It’s just an unfortunate situation for us and for him and for the team. We gotta continue to keep moving and keep him in our prayers and hope for a speedy recovery.”
As the Bulls practiced on the Raptors’ practice court inside Scotiabank Arena, Dunn underwent an MRI exam in Chicago. The Bulls didn’t initially provide an official timeline for his absence. But players and coaches didn’t dispute questions about a potentially extended absence.
Dunn, who missed 23 games to a sprained right MCL last season, had his right leg snap back violently after absorbing the blow of Young’s head and stayed on the floor for several minutes before hobbling to the locker room under his own power.
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“It’s always a challenge when you lose a starter,” coach Jim Boylen said.
Boylen would know. Dunn moved into a starting role only when Chandler Hutchison went down with a shoulder injury. Hutchison move into a starting role only when Otto Porter Jr. went down with a fracture in his left foot.
Wendell Carter Jr. and Lauri Markkanen also are currently sidelined by ankle and hip injuries, respectively.
“Kris does things in our system that are big pillars of our system – the defense, the running game, the driving and attacking that we do, the paint touches that we get. So we’re going to have to find that other places and move forward,” Boylen said. “It would be wrong of me not to talk about this too: He brings other things that maybe you don’t see on the floor.
"He’s a great teammate. He relishes in his teammates’ success. He’s a vocal part of our meal room, our meetings, our video. He helps us learn and grow, so we’re going to miss him on a lot of levels. And Wendell was that way too, so I’ve talked about that. I met with the team this morning and talked how everybody has to pick up the slack, verbally, tonally, kinesthetically, the whole thing. We’ll try and do that.’’
It won’t be easy. Carter is the Bulls’ best interior defender. Dunn, who ranks second behind Ben Simmons in total steals, is the Bulls’ best perimeter defender.
Beyond the Xs and Os, there’s the human element to injury.
“I felt that in that first quarter. We got down, and then as we got into the game, we got it to six, we kept playing. When you have a fallen teammate, and a guy like Kris, there’s an impact to it,” Boylen said. “But I thought we battled through it. I have to give our guys credit for that. I thought we battled through and honored the parts of the game we wanted to honor, which are competing and playing hard. We had a guy (Kyrie Irving) that had an unbelievable performance (Friday) night. You gotta give him credit.’’
There’s also a business side to the equation. Dunn will be a restricted free agent this summer. And with the trade deadline looming Thursday, yet another injury could push management into selloff mode.
While it’s unlikely Dunn is moved, Young and Denzel Valentine are candidates.
“I try not to worry about those things. I try to continue to come and hoop whether I’m playing for the Bulls or playing for any other organization," Young said. "Whatever organization I’m playing for, that’s who I’m family with. That’s who I’m going to play for and that’s who I’m ready to play for. If they have to make a business decision, I understand what it is.
“I’ve been in the game for a long time. I understand organizations have to make changes and business decisions. When you get into a situation and your back is against the wall, you have to learn how to pivot. For me, if I’m traded or I’m here, whatever it is, I’m prepared for it.”
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