What Will Mike Be Like?

With Bulls players dropping like flies, it's understandably difficult to keep track of who's healthy.  Nikola Mirotic's setback caused by a hematoma removal, putting him out indefinitely, has only added to this mindset.  All these health issues from guys the Bulls could have used in a trade mean it's unlikely they'll be able to upgrade their roster for the second half of the season.  Or do they?

Mike Dunleavy, who has missed the entire season after having back surgery and suffering a setback during rehab, is set to return Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.  He has finally been taking full contact in practices and performing full workouts.  One of the final steps on his road to recovery was practicing with Santa Cruz of the D-League for two days.  The Bulls' recent stay in California undoubtedly had something to do with where he was sent.

This is the equivalent to a midseason deal without actually giving anything up.  The question is what will the 35-year-old Dunleavy be able to do coming off everything he's gone through?  Will he be close to the 10.5 points per game and 43.2 field-goal percentage he's achieved in two seasons with the Bulls?  Or will his scoring numbers drop from last year like most of his teammates?

While it's difficult to predict this year's value for sure, there's no denying he's reliable when healthy.  He played every game in 2013-14 and started every contest in which he was active last year.  His offensive rating of 113 in 2014-15 was second only to Jimmy Butler at 122, as was his true shooting percentage (57.3 to Butler's 58.3).  That may or may not have had to do with his team leading 40.7 percent from 3-point land (no, Pau Gasol's 46.2 percent doesn't count:  he only attempted 26 treys).

Dunleavy is a player you want to find for both long and open shots.  If you take away Gasol's infrequent long shooting and Doug McDermott barely playing after last year's injury, Duneleavy unseats both as far as top field-goal percentage from at least 16 feet (46.1) and 2-point field goals assisted (76.5).  None of that matters when you realize that was when he didn't miss nearly as much time with injuries.  Still, his most recent history suggests the Bulls will be grateful for any possible improvement to that 25th-ranked 43.5 field-goal percentage, 26th-ranked 51.7 true shooting percentage and 29th-ranked 2-point field goal percentage (45.9).

Amazingly, there's still time for the Bulls to save their season.  Will Dunleavy's mere addition turn it all around?  Probably not, but at least there's cause for hope.  Perhaps the rest of his teammates can follow his example and learn how to take good, smart shots.

Many are nervous that the Bulls are only 3 1/2 games ahead of ninth-place Charlotte in the East.  They'd feel better if the Bulls could pass Atlanta and Boston and be comfortably in third.  Heck, it'd be even more fun if they could chase Cleveland and Toronto, against whom they are 4-0.  Of course, that might just be an indictment of how well they play top teams, so maybe Dunleavy's addition will give them much-needed help against the bad teams they struggle with.