Dunn will miss Bulls' season opener in Philadelphia
Just one game into the season, the Bulls are already a few men short.
Coach Fred Hoiberg announced at Thursday's shootaround that point guard Kris Dunn was given an excused absence for personal reasons, and won't be in uniform when the Bulls open the regular season in Philadelphia. Lauri Markkanen (elbow) and Denzel Valentine (ankle) were already sidelined.
That means Cameron Payne will get the start at point guard, with Philadelphia native Ryan Arcidiacono and possibly newcomer Tyler Ulis filling in.
"We feel that Cam with that first group is going to spray the ball ahead, he's going to run the offense," Hoiberg told reporters in Philadelphia. "I've liked what Arch has done in that second unit, so we're going to keep Ryan coming off the bench with that second group.
"In watching that game (preseason finale against Denver) the other night, he (Arcidiacono) had some good chemistry with Jabari (Parker) when he was out there, so it's just the way we're going to go. And then Ulis will be active tonight and he's going to have to be ready.''
The Bulls claimed Ulis off waivers from Golden State and converted his deal to a two-way contract, which means he'll split time between the NBA club and the G-League's Windy City Bulls. Since G-League season has yet to begin, both Ulis and Rawle Alkins, their other two-way player, will be active tonight.
Ulis, who attended Marian Catholic High School in South suburban Chicago Heights, started 58 games for the Phoenix Suns during his first two NBA seasons, so he's got experience in the league, even if he's had just two practices and a shootaround with the Bulls.
Payne has started 15 games during three injury-shortened NBA seasons. The Bulls liked his potential enough to trade Jerian Grant to Orlando in the summer and give Payne the backup point guard job behind Dunn. Payne missed the majority of last season recovering from foot surgery, but says he feels 100 percent.
Arcidiacono was a two-way player last season and appeared in 24 games for the Bulls. He grew up just outside of Philadelphia in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and helped lead Villanova to an NCAA title in 2016.
The Bulls already figured to have their hands full with the Sixers' 6-foot-10 point guard Ben Simmons, who piled up 19 points, 15 rebounds and 8 assists in a season-opening loss to Boston Tuesday. The one thing Simmons doesn't do well is shoot from the outside.
"Try to go 1-0, man. That's about it. Help my team win," Payne said at the shootaround. "Whoever (he guards), I'll be ready for the opportunity."
The rest of the Bulls' starting lineup remains as planned, with Zach LaVine, Justin Holiday, Bobby Portis and rookie Wendell Carter Jr.
Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls