The Bulls will extend a qualifying offer to swingman Denzel Valentine, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic tweets, but won’t do the same for guard Kris Dunn, according to NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson (Twitter link).
Valentine’s qualifying offer is worth $4,642,800 and Chicago’s decision will make him a restricted free agent. Dunn’s QO is $7,091,457 and by making him an unrestricted free agent, the Bulls rid themselves of his $16,044,021 cap hold. Dunn’s QO would have been identical to Valentine’s if he hadn’t narrowly met the “starter criteria.”
Valentine’s career was marred by a serious ankle injury which caused him to miss the entire 2018/19 season. He appeared in 36 games last season, including five starts, and averaged 6.8 PPG and 2.1 RPG in 13.6 MPG.
Chicago’s decision displays confidence that Valentine can regain the form he showed in 2017/18, his second NBA season, when he started 77 games and averaged 10.2 PPG while making 38.6% of his 3-point tries.
Dunn posted averages 7.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG and 3.4 APG in ’19/20 and was one of the league’s best defenders before a knee injury ended his season early. Dunn’s days in Chicago were numbered once the team drafted Coby White and signed Tomas Satoransky last season.
The fifth overall pick in the 2016 draft by Minnesota, Dunn was traded after his rookie season to the Bulls in the Jimmy Butler blockbuster. He had a disappointing run with the Bulls but he’s expected to have several bidders for his services, including the Clippers, according to Johnson.
I think the betting odds were for the exact opposite of these two decisions to happen…
I’m not sure about that if you look at the numbers. Valentine 4.6 and Dunn 7 million dollars.
Sounds like he’s Dunn
Finally they realized Dunn is trash…
A backup guard who is a defensive wizard and excels at that end of the floor has a place in the NBA. If he could just pick up his offense a tad he’d have a job for years and years.
How long has he been in the league? When will he ever pick up his offense? DJ Augustine is better than him!
Casual fan alert
You don’t need to alert us you’re a casual fan lol don’t be self conscience anyone can post here
Clearing the way for Russell Westbrook. I’m telling you guys, I am just convinced he will be a Bull.
On one hand they brought in Bully Donovan to help rebuild…on the other he has never not coached a team whose real coach was the star player. It would be a slap in the face by Bulls org…but nothing is a surprise in life to me
Wow 16 mill cap hold. Yup this was a good move. Why would Clippers want him. Basically getting a younger Beverley. Makes no sense. No one is paying him more than 3 mill. He should go to OKC or Detroit. Where he can get mins, get his career back in order. Still a young player. I would hire a shooting coach and shoot non-stop.
If the Warriors would get him for the minimum they would jump on it.
ehhh he’ll be 27 this year and he’s a career 30% 3fg
he may actually be available at the min
they mixed up the names i hope. dunn has been better. bulls should still keep him, great defense. valentine can’t play, he’s always hurt, same with otto.
$$$
The Sixers can finally sign Dunn lol
After all this time, he can be theirs
Dunn to Dallas and send D Wright out in a trade somewhere
Dunn to Golden State would be a match made in heaven. Dunn can get time next to steph, klay or both. He doesn’t need the ball on offense but is an above average distributor. And he will just strait lock people up.
Dunn would be a solid fit in Cleveland too as he would add defense to an undersized backcourt of sexton and garland that can score but struggle to defend.
He could take the Avery Bradley role with the Lakers too.
And he makes sense for the clippers too that would love a defense first guy aside from Beverly
These fits are off the top of my head, but no doubt he will have some teams bidding
Or Atlanta
What has Denzel Valentine done to deserve any kind of NBA contract anymore? He’s supposed to be a shooter but he can’t shoot so what exactly does he offer to anybody?
A true team player for the shooters
Should have been the other way around…
They are thinking Edwards or LaMelo will fall to 4. Westbrook is going to the knicks.
They are thinking Edwards or LaMelo will fall to 4. Westbrook is going to the knicks.
They should have let Valentine walk. He has done nothing to earn a qualifying offer.
Smart move for keeping Valentine & Templeand. laVine the 3 brothers from another. Mommy