New Coach and Contract, Same Importance for Chicago Bulls' Mike Dunleavy

Mike Dunleavy Jr. chose to stay with the Chicago Bulls, agreeing to a three-year pact for $14.4 million. It wasn’t the most notable of deals on a day that saw bigger names consent to far more significant amounts of money, but for Dunleavy, understated importance is the norm.

It was, in fact, a raise for Dunleavy, who agreed to a pay cut two years ago when he came to Chicago in the hopes of competing for a championship. The Bulls' front office of Gar Forman and John Paxson is rewarding Dunleavy for having taken less.

According to Johnson, Dunleavy took about $6 million less to come to Chicago in the first place.According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Dunleavy was pleased with the deal:

"

I’m thrilled to be back. I think it’s a really fair deal. I’m looking forward to playing for (new coach Fred Hoiberg) and love our team. I have a great feeling about this group, and that’s a big reason why I’m back. ...

I have a really good relationship with these guys. I couldn’t leave at this point.

"

The deal might seem a bit steep, but with the new TV deal kicking in next year, everyone is re-evaluating what contract value is. In reality, while Dunleavy is getting a big bump in actual dollars, he’ll be drawing a lower percentage of the salary cap over the next three years.

Frankly put, fans can’t complain about the Bulls being cheap one minute and then gripe about them overspending to retain veterans the next. If you want players treated “right,” don’t complain when they are.

When you compare Dunleavy, with his 11.6 player efficiency rating and 40.7 three-point percentage, to Kyle Singler, who had a 8.5 PER and shot 38.6 percent from deep but got a five-year, $25 million deal, as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, it’s actually a pretty good deal.

Dunleavy is also a stabilizing and critical presence because of the little things. His 9.4 points, 3.9 boards and 1.8 assists per game don’t begin to state what he is worth. As Chris Terzic wrote for BBallBreakdown.com, his intangibles and immeasurables are numerous:

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But with Dunleavy in the lineup last season, the team boasted a glistening 41-22 record, and that’s a reflection of the immeasurable things Dunleavy does best. He’s the team’s best post-entry passer and the team’s best alley-oop thrower (which is something the Bulls were shockingly bad at last season). He’s a vastly under-appreciated team defender, often best displayed by how reluctant opponents are to screen him. Put it this way: he knows he’s every bit of 6-foot-9 and is going to make you feel him if you want to initiate some contact. And for my money, he’s one of the best screen-setters in the league for his position.

"

And that might not seem like much if he were being paid major money, but it’s not. This is what he does. He is the epitome of the glue guy. And as the team transitions to a new era, having a player who can do the little things is even more important.

Fred Hoiberg is stepping in as the new head coach, replacing the recently dismissed Tom Thibodeau—an offensive maharishi to replace a defensive guru. And Dunleavy’s optimistic outlook, veteran experience and coaching-inclined brain make him an asset as the team pivots to the future.

He looks forward to the opportunity, telling Johnson: "I’m looking forward to playing for him. I played against Fred when he was in the league and always respected and admired him as a player. I watched a little bit of his teams at Iowa State. He has a style of play that’s conducive to our league at this time."

It is also conducive to Dunleavy. His deep shooting pairs well with Hoiberg’s three-point-heavy scheme, which is largely designed to get guys like Dunleavy open, weak-side looks from behind the arc off guard penetration or drag screens.

According to Basketball-Reference.com (h/t Terzic), Dunleavy was just one of five players who qualified for the three-point title who had a three-point-attempt rate over 50 percent and a success rate of 40 percent.

That’s a perfect fit for Hoiberg’s offense.

Dunleavy's might not be the sexiest retention of the offseason, but it is certainly one of the most sensible. The coach might have changed, and Dunleavy might be getting a little bit more money, but he’ll be doing the same thing he’s done the last two years: help win games.