:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15744757/20130415_ajl_sh5_267.0.jpg)
Update: According to Marc Stein, Dunleavy has verbally agreed to a two-year, $6 million contract with the Bulls. The move will free a little less than $5 million dollars from the Bucks' salary when Dunleavy's cap hold is removed.
From Earlier: According to a tweet from Yahoo! Sports NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Bucks forward Mike Dunleavy Jr. is discussing a two-year, $6 million contract with the Chicago Bulls. Other teams may still be in the mix, but Chicago is widely believed to be the most likely landing spot for the 32 year old shooter.
Dunleavy has been consistently productive for the Bucks since signing a two-year, $7 million deal prior to the 2011-2012 season. He shot over 40% from three in Milwaukee and played solid defense on the wings. He looked especially good during the Bucks' intermittent stretches of sensational ball movement, when his ballhandling and passing skills helped fuel a shockingly good Milwaukee offense.
Despite his excellent all-around play, there hasn't been much word of Dunleavy looking to return to the Bucks. Entering the latter part of his career, it makes sense that he would try to get on board with a contender, and the Bulls represent one of the better options in that regard. For his part, Dunleavy would give the Bulls another much-needed shooter who can contribute in multiple ways, and one that should pair well with Derrick Rose when he returns from injury.
Losing Dunleavy would cut into Milwaukee's already thin depth on the wings, leaving defensive ace Luc Mbah a Moute and first-round pick Giannis Antetokounmpo as the only real small forwards on the roster. Mbah a Moute is too limited offensively to start for a team with designs on winning games, and Antetokounmpo might not even be ready to play this season.
As much as Bucks fans have appreciated having Dunleavy around, many will surely be happy to see him move on to a team where greater glory is there for the taking. I know I'll be rooting for him, even if I must simultaneously curse the team he plays for to eternal damnation.