Bulls' Mike Dunleavy Out 8-10 Weeks After Back Surgery

(CBS) Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy will miss eight to 10 weeks after he underwent a low back microdiscectomy procedure on Friday, the team announced.

Dunleavy, 35, had experienced discomfort over the summer that recently got worse. Conservative measures failed to resolve his symptoms, the team said, leading to the choice to have surgery, which was performed at Rush University Medical Center.

Chicago opens training camp with media day Monday and its first practice Tuesday. The Bulls' first regular-season game is Oct. 27. If Dunleavy is out until the end of November -- which is just more than nine weeks from now -- he would miss the first 15 games of the regular season.

Dunleavy averaged 9.4 points in 2014-'15 while starting 63 games. He missed an extended stretch because of a nagging ankle injury. He shot nearly 41 percent from 3-point range.

Dunleavy signed a three-year deal in the offseason worth a little more than $14 million.

Dunleavy's absence will present a golden opportunity for second-year pro Doug McDermott to step up under rookie coach Fred Hoiberg. McDermott was the team's first-round pick in 2014 but fell out of the regular rotation under former coach Tom Thibodeau after an early season knee problem. He averaged 3.0 points in 36 games.

Dunleavy's injury should also open up a bigger role for third-year wing Tony Snell.