Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn shut down for last five Bulls games

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In what was an expected development, Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn have been shut down for the remaining five games this season.

While the Bulls say the two have made progress from their respective injuries—LaVine with knee tendonitis and Dunn with a toe injury—neither has made enough improvement to get in proper condition to play over the next week and a half.

And with the Bulls trying to improve their lottery positioning, there’s no rush in putting either on the floor. There’s very little to gain and it seems clear the Bulls have seen what they’ve needed to from both to feel comfortable moving forward into the offseason.

LaVine finishes his season with 25 games played, averaging 16.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 27.3 minutes, as he didn’t make his debut from ACL surgery until January.

Dunn showed some signs as a potential closer, helping engineer the Bulls’ best stretch of the season in mid-December and averaged 13.4 points, 6.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals. His progress was cut short by a recovery from a concussion he suffered against Golden State on Jan. 17.

“They've both individually had big games for us,” Robin Lopez said. “I love the mentality.”

Lopez points out, though, including Lauri Markkanen, there was never a signature game or period where the trio all played at the same level. LaVine’s peaks came when Dunn was out and vice-versa.

“I don't think there was any point where Lauri, Zach and Kris were ever at their own peak when they were playing together,” Lopez said. “That's a tantalizing aspect that we haven't even seen yet.”

It’s a question that’s yet to be answered headed into the draft and free agency this summer, how effective can they be together.

“I’m excited about next year with those two guys for the fact that when we were playing our best stretch of basketball this season, Zach had come back,” Fred Hoiberg said. “He was playing about 20 minutes when he first got back. We won those first two games where we had him playing some of our best basketball. I wish we could’ve kept that going.”

“We just weren’t able to see exactly what that would’ve looked like when we were playing our best basketball. I’m excited. It’s going to take a lot of work in the offseason to get that chemistry right.”

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