After unexpected return, Bulls' Valentine gaining trust
A year ago at this time, none of us knew what kind of crazy, unexpected events were on the way.
But here it is 2021, and Denzel Valentine is still playing for the Bulls.
And he's gaining coach Billy Donovan's trust. Over the last four games, Valentine leads the team in fourth-quarter minutes.
That's a far cry from a year ago, when Valentine began the season stuck on the bench. He finally played out of necessity when injuries depleted the roster.
But with his rookie contract expiring, it seemed a foregone conclusion a mutual parting of ways was in store. Valentine was asked Friday what went through his mind as last season dragged on.
"Man, every day I would walk in here, I didn't know," he said. "Some days, I'd be like, 'Oh, man, I'm probably going to stay.' And then other days, I'd be like, 'Yeah, I'm for sure done with the Bulls.'
"I can't let the circumstance reflect my energy. I just have to work hard, be a professional every day and the rest will take care of itself."
There were some circumstances that led to improved relations. During the long, pandemic-fueled offseason, the Bulls changed the front office and coaching staff. Also, Valentine was willing to accept the one-year qualifying offer worth $4.6 million, likely more than he could have gotten on the open market.
Then this season began with more bad luck as Valentine missed all of preseason with a hamstring injury. But once healthy, the Bulls' 2016 first-round pick seemed to fit what Donovan was looking for.
"I think Denzel likes playing in pick and roll, because I think he likes getting his passing into the game," Donovan said. "He's a good decision-maker. He also can score the ball as well. He's generated and created a lot of shots for guys, so when the ball's been in his hands, he's more often than not made good decisions."
The stats tell a typical story, since Valentine has always been someone who does a little bit of everything. He's averaging 7.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and shooting just under 40 percent from 3-point range.
Valentine fares well in the advanced stats. Among players who have appeared in at least 10 games, he leads the team in both plus-minus and net rating. While Donovan has been leaning heavily on veterans Thad Young, Otto Porter and Garrett Temple, he's played Valentine roughly 20 minutes per game over the past two weeks.
"I just think the more you keep watching me and the more I get out there, just everything I can do, my versatility," Valentine said. "Because it's not just a shooter or not just a playmaker or not just a defender. I can pretty much do everything at a good level I think. With more minutes, I'll be able to show a little bit more of each."
Third-year forward Chandler Hutchison was in the rotation at the start of the season. He tested positive for COVID-19 and hasn't played in two of the three games since he returned.
"You're not going to be able to play everybody," Donovan said. "And because of the situation we're in with the virus, with injuries, things change drastically. I still think Chandler is an important piece. We need to keep him ready. He is coming back off COVID, he was pretty sick, he'll get his timing and his stamina back.
"But there's nothing that he has done, from his perspective or my perspective, that has warranted him not being in the rotation. It's probably more a reflection of Denzel's played pretty well."
The Bulls will finally return to action Saturday against Portland. They had an unplanned four-day break this week with the postponement of Wednesday's game at Memphis.
Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls