The Chicago Bulls might seem well-positioned to absorb the loss of Ayo Dosunmu for the remainder of the season. After all, the roster is packed with guards.
But as they continue their push to make the NBA playoffs, the Bulls don’t have a true replacement for Dosunmu, whom the medical team shut down for the season Sunday to address instability in his left shoulder.
Dosunmu brought a different dynamic to the Bulls in transition, both on the ball and as a passer. And he offered a rare combination of length and physicality that anchored the Bulls defense.
“He was a big catalyst for why and how we changed the way we were trying to play stylistically,” coach Billy Donovan said after practice Monday. “He really was a great engine in terms of pushing the ball, creating pace, creating tempo.
“And he had a lot on his plate this year because he clearly was one of our better perimeter defenders.”
Donovan said Dosunmu will be scheduled for surgery this week. The Illinois and Morgan Park alumnus has struggled with the shoulder injury for several years and acutely aggravated it in a loss to the New York Knicks on Feb. 20.
After sitting out three games, Dosunmu returned Friday against the Toronto Raptors and had 11 points, five rebounds and a key steal and layup in overtime in the Bulls’ comeback victory. But continued instability in the shoulder has forced an early end to his season.
With Patrick Williams still out with a knee injury, the Bulls (24-37) now enter their final 21 regular-season games without the guts of their perimeter defense.
Although they are well-positioned to secure the last spot in the play-in tournament, entering Monday with a two-game lead over the Philadelphia 76ers for 10th place in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls will be significantly diminished without Dosunmu. They will rely on young players Dalen Terry, Julian Phillips and Matas Buzelis to absorb his defensive assignments through committee.
Dosunmu filled that crucial role while starting in only 26 of his 46 appearances this season. It’s the third time in his four-year career he started the majority of his games despite never being named a starter. He finished the season with averages of 12.3 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds — all career highs.