Bulls swingman Denzel Valentine is voicing his frustrations over being dropped from the rotation by coach Jim Boylen, relays Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.
Valentine performed well when he was given regular playing time in December, reaching double figures in scoring six times in a seven-game stretch. Cowley notes that the Bulls, who have a 14-26 record, were 6-6 last month when Valentine logged at least 10 minutes.
‘‘I’m definitely not happy about it,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m a competitor. I want to play, I want to be productive, I want to help the team win. But that’s out of my control, so I’m not about to let it make [me] not happy every day.’’
Boylen informed Valentine last week that he was being pulled from the rotation in a decision that may be related to the 26-year-old’s long-term future in Chicago. He will be a restricted free agent after the season, and sources tell Cowley the Bulls don’t intend to re-sign him. The club would reportedly be happy to include him in a trade package if the opportunity arises before next month’s deadline.
‘‘I’ve just got to take it a day at a time,’’ Valentine said. ‘‘I can’t try and think about the future and worry about the future because you never know what’s going to happen. If I get moved or if I stay here … I’m happy I’m in the NBA, living my dream.’’
It was Chandler Hutchison‘s return from a shoulder injury that relegated Valentine to the bench, adds K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Valentine had his second straight DNP-CD tonight and has played just nine total minutes in January.
The only bright side for Valentine is that his ankle has held up after surgery forced him to miss all of last season. That should bolster his trade value, and Johnson speculates that the Bulls might try to include him as part of any deal that involves Thaddeus Young.
“I let my agent handle that. I try not to worry too much about that. I try to make the most out of my situation right now,” Valentine said. “I feel I can play on any team. I’m trying to make the Chicago Bulls better. Any other stuff is out of my control.”
Valentine > Hutcshitson
WTF
No doubt…
Of course Denzel is upset.
Who wouldn’t be?
Cristiano Fellatio. He is happy just to have a paycheck which pays for the snacks he eats while watching the game from the bench.
$8M in snacks? He’s trash!!
This is crazy as much as the bulls need other options scoring on the 2nd unit they sit him
And play Hutchinson who can’t shoot any type of ball into Lake Michigan let on the court
Poor management of GARPAX bad judgement of talent once again. Bulls have great outside shooters, too bad all their games are indoors:)
My guess is that they want to trade Valentine for cash. They do this trick every year. The old man loves the cash.
It doesn’t even have to be a meaningful amount. Just the idea of it.
Exactly correct. Resindork loves his winter bonus money that he’ll use to stock the White Sox’s vending machines for a year. SELL THE BULLS!!
There isn’t a single player on this roster that would start on a championship caliber team. The Bulls need to start accumulating as many draft picks as possible. Like Boston & Philadelphia did and What OKC is doing now. Without a generational talent you aren’t winning a thing.
Lavine and Markkanen are pretty good. They couldn’t carry a championship team but they could probably start on a championship team as second or third options.
Pretty good? The Bulls are filled with 6th or 7th men in a real rotation. This team is trash! They’re I’ll be until Jerry sells the team and management is all sent packing.
They will*** be
Team is definitely trash…no doubt. I was responding to the comment that not a single player on the roster could start on a championship team. I think Lavine and Markkanen could. I mean Markkanen is as good or better than Kuzma and Lavine is definitely better than KCP. And the Lakers are definitely a championship team this year.
Valentine prob sign next year 3/44mill deal
No one is going to offer him anything near 15 mil.
Thad Young and Denzel Valentine for Maurice Harkless and Jerome Robinson and a second rounder.
Bulls get Robinson a former first round pick with years left on his deal that looks promising. Plus they get rid of Young’s deal which I bet they regret giving to him for Harkless’s expirind deal. Also gives more minutes for Markeneen and they get a pick
Clippers get Thad Young a vet PF who can make them even stronger, hopefully be finds some form. Think just living in LA on a competitive basketball team goes along way to helping him. They also get Valentine who is unhappy at the Bulls and could potentially be a bench shooter if needed.
Doesn’t really make sense for the clippers. They are super deep and would probably be looking for a more dynamic acquisition with all their pieces. They have George, harkless, green, and Patterson to play the 4, I don’t see young as much of an improvement over their current harkless/green backup rotation. Valentine wouldnt get much court time in LA either. Seems like a waste on an expiring deal for clippers. I don’t see them trading expiring contracts for fringe rotation players. That’s what the BO market is for
No one is exactly brought out yet. And when someone is brought out not exactly like he’s a guarantee to come to your club.
Back to Thad Young tho, I think he would be good for the clippers and it’s someone they are actually looking at it terms of trading for.
Thad Young is definitely an upgrade over Harkless tho.
For his career he averages 6 more points, 1.5 more rebounds, an assist more, and half a block more per game than Harkless. He’s also a better shooter than Harkless and has a lot more playoff experience than him.
Valentine does deserve at least a better opportunity else where. He could fit in with Hear nicely as a plug and play in bench rotation.
What the heck, make him part of a block buster 3 team deal.
Heat: Deadmon, Ariza, Valentine
Bulls: Barnes, Waiters, $3M Cash Heat
Kings: Porter, Johnson, Olynik, 2025 1st Heat lottery protected
Heat: Best 2 picks for 2021 2nd round of Bulls or Kings Grizzlies/Heat
Everyone gets a little something and a good roster shakeup with potential upside.
Yes it’s over the top.
Over the top and Heat don’t have a need to make a big roster change. They are winning games and playing really well.
I could see them make a small move like Dion Waiters for Dwayne Dedmon or both.
Both players are just locker room issues at the currently so this helps with that situation. Heat take on a little more salary but get back the better of the two players
It’s sad that coaches have the ability to ruin someone’s playing career because they wanna play somebody else.
The Bulls aren’t even bothering to hide the fact that they don’t care about winning games.
I’m not really sure Dedmon is a troublemaker. Either way
#selltheBullsoldman