Chicago Bulls: 4 free agents who could replace Denzel Valentine
1) Chicago Bulls free agent targets to replace Denzel Valentine: Hamidou Diallo
The Oklahoma City Thunder got a few highlights out of the young 6-foot-5 and 205 pound shooting guard/small forward Hamidou Diallo, but not much consistent production over the course of the last two years. The stellar dunker and gifted two-guard does have the potential and physical tools to become a proficient two-way role player.
Diallo held a more prominent role in his second year in the NBA, but wasn’t that much more efficient. But he was largely kept around the same supporting cast and with the same usage in the Thunder scheme by head coach Billy Donovan. He wasn’t taking as many shots as he was during his rookie season where he is the most proficient.
Diallo showed pretty good improvement in his corner three-point shooting, but wasn’t allowed to drive and kick or get down the lane and use his tremendous physical tools to his benefit as much this season compared to last. Given the uptick in Bulls three-point shooting last season, and the frequency that Valentine took corner threes, Diallo is an intriguing replacement for him if he continues to improve heading into his third year in the NBA.
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During the 2019-20 regular season, Diallo played in 46 games (starting in three of them). He also played in three games in the Thunder first round playoff series against the Rockets. During the regular season, Diallo averaged 6.9 points per game, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.2 blocks. He shot 44.6 percent from the field, 28.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 60.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Diallo would be a much more capable on-ball defender than Valentine and could bring more upside to the table if the Bulls could land him off of the restricted free agent market.