Three years and $21 million is more than most thought Ayo Dosunmu would get from the Chicago Bulls as a restricted free agent following an unsatisfactory second season.
It might be an overpay, but the Bulls were wise for keeping him. They’re better with Dosunmu than without him. And how bad would it have been if the Bulls let him get away only to watch the Chicago native and Illinois product bloom elsewhere?
Advertisement
After three weeks of uncertainty, Dosunmu officially signed his new deal Sunday to stay home. He now has a chance to make the contract look like a steal if he can continue his development and capture the starting point guard role he covets. And don’t forget that Dosunmu had observers believing he played his way out of the Bulls’ price range during his rookie season.
And the Bulls front office never lost sight of all the reasons Dosunmu provided two seasons ago. His first two trips to Boston illustrated why the fearless Dosunmu earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors and became an impact player.
In the first visit, Dosunmu’s sixth NBA game, he went 6 of 6 from the field for a 14-point performance in a 14-point win. In the next trip, Dosunmu’s third career start on Jan. 15, 2022, two days before his 22nd birthday, he recorded his first NBA double-double with 21 points and 10 assists. He made 9-of-10 shots to become the first rookie in NBA history to score at least 20 points with 10 assists while shooting 90 percent.
At the other end, Dosunmu defended Celtics star Jayson Tatum, limiting him to 23 points on 24 shots.
“For a young guy like him to play with so much poise and not get rushed into making quick decisions and just playing smart ball, it’s impressive at that age,” Bulls center Nikola Vučević said that night.
Dosunmu has legitimate two-way player potential. He’s a blur when deciding to attack the basket, a competent catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter and capable of defending three positions. He can orchestrate the offense, slide off the ball or play down one more spot in three-guard lineups. Dosunmu also is a vocal leader, unafraid to challenge even DeMar DeRozan. There’s great value in the Bulls retaining the 2021 second-round pick and committing to his development.
Advertisement
The cost could be negligible despite the Bulls appearing to once again bid against themselves with little spending power remaining in free agency. After it initially appeared the Bulls were waiting out the situation to make Dosunmu and his representatives land a more lucrative deal, they rewarded him more handsomely than any other suitor probably would. In doing so, Dosunmu joined DeRozan and Vučević in that grouping.
The money matters only in relation to the limits on Dosunmu’s development. And, after the Bulls re-signed Coby White and brought in Jevon Carter this offseason, Dosunmu’s future opportunities for growth deserve close inspection.
With his return, Dosunmu should be in the thick of a three-way battle for the starting point guard role. White and Carter, you can bet, also want and believe they’re qualified for the job. White is the youngest, edging Dosunmu by a month. But Dosunmu’s mix of size at the position, defense, shooting and playmaking might translate to him having the most upside.
No matter who wins the job, the ball still will be in the hands of DeRozan and Zach LaVine — a lot. Alex Caruso also will run the team as the primary ballhandler at times. It won’t leave much room for Dosunmu to function as a lead facilitator if he’s not the starter. He could be the primary backup behind White or Carter with Caruso serving as the backup 3-man. Even then, the backup point guard likely will share minutes with either LaVine or DeRozan when their minutes are staggered.
Dosunmu’s versatility will assist Bulls coach Billy Donovan in finding him minutes. But they might not be assigned to the role Dosunmu truly desires. If he’s asked to excel within minimal minutes and can’t, the contract suddenly will look silly — a high price for a utility guard with a low ceiling and consistency concerns.
Advertisement
The first way for Dosunmu to avoid that reality is by taking a course in confidence. It was clear to see he played with far less conviction as last season wore on. He lost his starting role twice, once to Caruso at the start of December and again after the All-Star break when Patrick Beverley arrived.
In the season’s second half, Dosunmu didn’t look anything like the memorable record-setting rookie. He played more passively and often failed to leave his imprint. His 3-point shooting percentage sank, rendering him unreliable for the league’s most conservative 3-point shooting team (NBA-low 28.9 attempts per game last season).
Buttoning up his ballhandling and perimeter shot are Dosunmu’s next steps. Those alone will assure him of playing time. Developing wizardry with the ball in his hands could make him the starter. Donovan has said Dosunmu’s evolution must include the ability to exploit defenses — in pick-and-rolls, isolation or transition. Until he can master manipulating and duping defenders, Dosunmu won’t transform into the caliber of player the Bulls think he can be.
But a lavish new contract shows the Bulls are banking on Dosunmu inching closer. Their commitment to Dosunmu has stamped him as a certified, second-round success story.
Now, the wait begins to see what role Dosunmu assumes and how much he’s able to do with it.
(Top photo of Billy Donovan and Ayo Dosunmu: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57k3BobmpgbHxzfJFsZmlvX2eBcK3YqGSdp6Oqu67BjJuspaSjYrK5wMSnm2g%3D