4. Denzel Valentine
- Age: 22 (Nov. 16)
- Contract: two years, $4.3 million; team option 2018-19, 2019-2020
It’s tough to put a value on a guy who has yet to play a game in the NBA, but just given the fact that Denzel Valentine was a lottery pick, makes him somewhat valuable.
If there’s anything that hurts Valentine, it’s his age. However, it’s not completely time to panic if he doesn’t figure things out in his first couple seasons. There might be this expectation that he will have less of a learning curve since he came out as a senior. Even older rookies may take some time to adjust to the NBA. Both Draymond Green and C.J. McCollum came out as seniors, and year three was when they both saw substantial growth.
Related Story: Denzel Valentine projected to finish 8th in ESPN's ROY standings
Moral of the story: It’s important not to expect less of a learning curve with Valentine just because he’s an older rookie.
Valentine has often been compared to the aforementioned Green. It’s an easy comparison to make: both are Michigan State alums, both came out as seniors, and both were outstanding all-around players in college. Draymond himself even sees similarities between Valentine and himself saying, “He’s the guard version of me.”
Time will tell if that comparison is an apt one. Either way, fans must to exhibit patience with Valentine even if he is two-and-a-half-years older than Bobby Portis.
Next: No. 3