Denzel Valentine has made the most of his very limited role this season with the Chicago Bulls, and he certainly deserves more playing time.
Last night, Denzel Valentine went 10/16 from the field and 4/6 from deep, recording 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 19 minutes of action. This performance was perhaps his best of the season, as he was extremely efficient and effective in his time on the floor. He recorded a team high +19 on the floor last night and helped get the Chicago Bulls the win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Despite Valentine’s solid play in every chance that he gets, he finds himself struggling to get any sort of significant play time. This season, the Michigan State product is averaging a mere 11.6 minutes per game, yet his efficiency has been the highest of his career. His shooting marks this season include 43 percent from the field and 39 percent from deep, taking 5.2 shots per game with 3.2 of those coming from behind the three point arc.
The numbers show us how well Denzel is playing this season, which makes fans wonder why he is playing so little. Per 36 minutes this season, Valentine is averaging 18.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 steals. For a team that is in need of offensive firepower, there is absolutely no reason as to why Valentine should be held to only 11.6 minutes per game.
The eye test also tells us that Valentine needs more minutes. His skill set is virtually ideal for the modern NBA: a wing who can pass, dribble, shoot, and play on or off of the ball. Floor spacing is a very obvious need for the Bulls, who are in the top-ten in three point attempts yet find themselves in the bottom-ten in three point percentage.
Valentine is one of the top shooters on the roster, and his ability to play both on and off of the ball should make him a valuable commodity in the Chicago offense, but for some reason he is not.
What is likely to happen is for Denzel to be moved, which is an extremely unfortunate likelihood. He is more than capable of being the go-to guy off of the bench, as his play and the numbers have shown.
Valentine was a lottery pick for a reason, and he has done nothing to make us believe that he is not that level of player. Hopefully he will continue to see increases in his playing time and win over Boylen’s approval. When Valentine is a part of the rotation, the Chicago Bulls are a better basketball team. Moving Valentine would be a shame, as he could play a big part in this team’s future.