Chicago Bulls with most at stake financially: Denzel Valentine
We start with the player that will earn the least among players included in this list, but someone who is hoping to still prove himself worthy of a multi-year deal worth a fair amount. It may be an uphill battle at this point, but if head coach Billy Donovan gives him enough minutes he could at least remind teams of what he is capable of when utilized correctly.
This season Valentine is making $4,642,800, according to Spotrac, a number he will hope to improve in the coming offseason. His inconsistent play likely will prevent much of a raise from that number but it’s possible he gets right around it or even a little bit more on a one-year deal.
It would certainly help the 27-year-old wing if he were able to string together some nice performances to end the season. The Michigan State product was selected 14th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls.
His best NBA season came in year number two when he averaged career highs in points, assists and rebounds. That season he averaged 10.2 points, 3.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game. Nothing eye-popping but a very well-rounded contribution for a second-year player.
If Valentine strings together some nice performances he just might be able to remind a team of what he has proven himself capable of. It is highly unlikely that team will be the Chicago Bulls. He has already set a limit on what teams will offer him, but if he plays his cards right he can still find himself a nice deal, possibly on an eligible team’s exception of some sort.