TORONTO – Thaddeus Young thought he had seen most everything in the last 13 NBA seasons.
That changed in 13 seconds on Friday night.
Welcome to the Bulls, where the unthinkable is just another head-shaking moment in a season full of head-shaking moments.
It was on the first possession of the game in Brooklyn in which Young did everything right by drawing the charge on Joe Harris, and then it went terribly wrong. As Young fell back, his head jammed into the right knee of Kris Dunn, sending the guard onto his back and in obvious pain.
According to the Bulls on Saturday, Dunn flew back to Chicago to receive an MRI and get a detailed diagnosis from team doctors.
Even if it is the best-case scenario and it’s a sprain, that’s still technically a tear. Considering how fragile this season has become for the Bulls, and with the Feb. 6 trade deadline just around the corner, losing Dunn for any amount of time could be an organizational changer.
Even Young admitted that, knowing he could be the one that’s being traded out.
“I try not to worry about those things,’’ Young said after the Saturday practice. “I try to continue to come and hoop whether I’m playing for the Bulls or playing for any other organization. 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.’’
The Bulls were already without Lauri Markkanen (right pelvis), Wendell Carter Jr. (right ankle) and Otto Porter Jr. (left foot). Rookie Daniel Gafford (right thumb) had a full-contact practice in Toronto, and could return Sunday.
Still, the Dunn injury was a punch in the gut. Not only because of how it happened, but who it happened to.
“That’s definitely a first for me,’’ Young said. “I think the only time I’ve seen something that’s happened like that is [Indiana’s] 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.’’
An opinion also shared by his coach.
Jim Boylen has done his best to change the identity of the Bulls this season, becoming a defensive-minded team first. Dunn is the poster boy of that philosophy, playing at level that many feel should earn him All-Defensive honors.
“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,’’ Boylen said. “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.’’
That’s why this latest loss to the roster should be a reality check for the Bulls. It might be time to really hit the sell button.
“The health of our team, our future development, our current ability to fight for the playoffs, we’ll take all that into account,’’ Boylen said of the expected meetings that will go down this week.
The likes of a Young or a Denzel Valentine could be directly affected by those meetings.
“For me, if I’m traded or I’m here, whatever it is, I’m prepared for it,’’ Young said.
