Chicago Bulls: 3 players with the most to prove in Training Camp

2) Chicago Bulls with most to prove in camp

While it is very likely that the former Michigan State Spartans 6-foot-4 and 220 pound shooting guard/wing Denzel Valentine makes the Bulls roster out of Training Camp and the preseason, he still has a lot to prove in the upcoming season.

Valentine was one of the surprising returns for the Bulls roster heading into next season, as he was an unrestricted free agent this offseason coming off the final year of his rookie contract. He was one of four impending restricted free agent guards that the Bulls had to decide on this offseason. And he was one of two that got re-signed for the 2020-21 season.

The other two that Karnisovas and the Bulls let go were point guard Kris Dunn (signed with the Hawks) and combo guard Shaquille Harrison (still on the free agent market).

Since the Bulls did take a risk in bringing back Valentine heading into next season, he has to prove in the near future that the gamble Karnisovas and Eversley took on him will pay off. A lot of the struggles in the past for Valentine had nothing to do with his production on the floor, but injury woes that caused him to miss a lot of time over the course of his four year career in the NBA.

Valentine played in 36 games during the shortened 2019-20 regular season with the Bulls (five of which he started in). And he averaged 6.8 points per game, 2.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.2 blocks. Valentine shot 40.9 percent from the field, 33.6 percent from beyond the arc, and 75.0 percent from the free-throw line.

What Valentine also has to show in Training Camp is that he deserves to get more playing time than the likes of former Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Garrett Temple, combo guard Tomas Satoransky, and small forward Chandler Hutchison.