Bulls' Valentine tries to look at bright side of season-ending surgery
The Bulls' Denzel Valentine is done for now. He'll have surgery to fix a lingering left ankle injury next week and is looking at a 4-6 week recovery.
When he spoke to reporters Tuesday at the Advocate Center, Valentine tried to look on the bright side. Once his recovery is complete, he can look forward to being 100 percent healthy when next season begins.
On the other hand, the Bulls could conceivably have handed their small forward spot to Zion Williamson by next year, so you never know how things might work out.
"When I come back, it's going to be a brand new ankle," Valentine said. "I've been pretty much having ankle issues ever since my rookie year. So I think I'm going to be fine. I think it's going to feel better. I think I'm going to take my game to another level because I'm going to be more stable in my ankle.
"I'll have a whole year off to get my body right, which I haven't got to do since college. I've just been on the go, on the go. It could be a blessing in disguise, that's how I've got to look at it."
The Bulls were looking forward to Valentine's return, since he would add some bench strength and 3-point shooting. The player most affected by his absence is probably rookie Chandler Hutchison, who will likely get regular playing time all season.
Taj Gibson is an example from recent Bulls history of a rookie who took advantage of a similar opportunity. Tyrus Thomas broke his arm early in the 2009-10 season, Gibson ended up starting 70 games and having a stellar NBA career.
"To have to go through this now, it's very difficult on a guy, mentally especially, to have the recovery of 4-6 months," Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. "I think it's a little bit of a relief that he knows now what has to happen.
"It doesn't make it any easier, but for him now to be able to talk to a couple people that have been through it, a couple of players that have come back full strength and have had really good moments since their surgeries is important for Denzel to know."
Valentine said he injured the ankle during a workout at the Advocate Center in early September. He and the team expected it to get better quickly, but after repeated setbacks, he was finally diagnosed with ongoing ankle instability.
"In the past I turned it and it took me maybe a week or two to get it right again," Valentine said. "It took a week or two and came back, it kind of swelled up on me. I did that twice. After that, I knew there was something wrong. Once I saw the doctor, he pretty much told me I had to make a tough decision.
"I could have came back and played, but I thought this was the best decision for my career and how things are going. You don't want to get out there and kind of like, 'Ahh, I'm hurt.' It is what it is. Got to get this over with and move on."
Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls
Scouting report
Bulls vs. Phoenix Suns, 7 p.m. Wednesday at the United Center
TV: NBCSCH • Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Outlook: The Suns (3-13) are one of three teams with a worse record than the Bulls, but they were competitive in a 119-114 loss at Philadelphia on Monday. ... SG Devin Booker scored 37 points in that game and leads Phoenix with 23.8 ppg. No. 1 overall draft pick DeAndre Ayton is off to a good start, averaging 16.4 points and 10.4 rebounds. SF T.J. Warren (17.9 ppg) and veteran Trevor Ariza (10.2) are the other top scorers. Former Bull Isaiah Canaan has started 14 of 16 games at point guard. ... The Bulls went 0-2 against the Suns last season.
Next: Miami Heat, 7 p.m. Friday at the United Center
- Mike McGraw