Bulls' Hoiberg: 'Fair to question' whether Dunleavy will play this season

The recovery timetable for Chicago Bulls swingman Mike Dunleavy Jr. seems to grow murkier by the day.

Dunleavy underwent back surgery before the start of the regular season and was expected to be ready to return around mid-December. At the end of November, though, he suffered a setback that was supposed to keep him out an additional two weeks. And a re-evaluation early this month revealed that he would stay sidelined another month at least.

At this point, according to Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg, it's no sure thing Dunleavy will even make it back onto the court this season.

"It's fair to question that," Hoiberg said Friday, according to CSN Chicago's Vincent Goodwill.

Hoiberg did say he's optimistic Dunleavy will return to game action in 2015-16. The Bulls should hope so because their offense needs the boost in a big way. After finishing 10th in the league in offensive efficiency a season ago, they're down to 27th this year, and while there are plenty of reasons for the drop-off, Dunleavy's shooting has been sorely missed.

The 35-year-old averaged a fairly pedestrian 9.4 points per game last season, but he shot a terrific 40.7 percent from 3-point range, and the Bulls performed 3.7 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor.