Bulls Forward Mike Dunleavy Headed to D-League’s Santa Cruz Warriors

The Chicago Bulls announced Monday that they’ve assigned veteran forward Mike Dunleavy to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the D-League.

While minor league basketball action typically doesn’t stir the pot all that much, Dunleavy’s new home could mean that he’s almost ready to step back on the floor for the Bulls.

The 35-year-old hasn’t appeared in a single game for Chicago this season after undergoing lower back surgery before the season. Although only practicing a few times since the start of the new year, Dunleavy has begun some contact drills, which presumably led to the next step of his rehabilitation in Santa Cruz.

However, there’s no plan for Dunleavy to appear in any games in the D-League. Instead, he’s going to use the assignment simply to practice during the Bulls’ West Coast trip.

In his second season in the “Windy City” last year, he averaged 9.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.