3. Lack of other capable offensive creators
The Chicago Bulls are largely devoid of capable offensive creators beyond the starting five. Even in the starting five now, the only reliable offensive creator for the Bulls is shooting guard Zach LaVine. With injuries taking power forward Lauri Markkanen, small forward Otto Porter Jr., and center Wendell Carter Jr. all out of action, offensive creators are becoming thin.
It’s a good thing that the Bulls still have LaVine, Valentine, and rookie point guard Coby White healthy and active. Hopefully that aforementioned trio of players dealing with various injuries right now will return to the lineup within the next month.
Valentine only has one lost ball turnover on the season so far, and 13 bad passes. That’s not bad for any shooting guard/wing that is given his poor supporting cast with the Bulls on the offensive end of the floor.
An assist rate above 15 percent doesn’t come with a turnover rate around 10 percent very often in a player getting the lack of minutes that Valentine is. He’s someone that can facilitate the second or third unit of this offense fairly efficiently, which could be difficult to find if he’s moved. But Boylen still won’t give him much playing time for some reason.
Valentine is surely more efficient for the Bulls as a primary ball handler off the bench than big man Cristiano Felicio, point guard Ryan Arcidiacono, or combo guard Shaquille Harrison. He wouldn’t replace Felicio at the four or the five, but he can take up some of his playing time if the Bulls were to play more small ball lineups.