DETROIT – It was a solid stretch by Denzel Valentine.
Not only in his own estimation, but the numbers backed it up for the former first-round pick.
He finally escaped the Jim Boylen doghouse in early December, got back into the rotation, and actually factored in the box score, putting up double-digits in six of seven games over a 10-day period. More importantly, in the 12 games that Valentine played 10 minutes or more last month, the Bulls won six of them.
And just like that? Gone.
So heck yeah, he’s not happy about it. For the first time he’s really voicing that rather than just saying what the organization wants to hear.
“I’m definitely not happy about it,’’ Valentine said on Saturday. “I’m a competitor, I want to play, I want to be productive, I want to help the team win, but that’s out of my control, so I’m not about to let it make it not happy every day. Of course I’m frustrated that I’m not in the rotation, but like I’ve said, I can’t control that.’’
Valentine, who has always been considered a tweener between the guard and forward position since he came out of Michigan State, was asked if he’s taken advantage of Boylen’s open-door policy and brought his complaints to his coach.
Considering it was Boylen who informed Valentine that he was once again out of the rotation just over a week ago, Valentine didn’t see much reason to.
“He kind of told me a couple games ago that I was out of the rotation,’’ Valentine said. “He didn’t really say why. He’s the coach and he feels like he wants to do that, he can do that, so … ‘’
What Valentine won’t do yet is demand a trade.
Picked 14th overall in the 2016 NBA draft, Valentine is a restricted free agent this summer, and sources have indicated that the Bulls don’t see a future with him. If they could package him come February for someone like a Thaddeus Young – who hasn’t been thrilled with his minutes – they would jump at that opportunity.
Especially if the Bulls continue to fade in the standings like they have been.
If he is moved, that’s one thing for Valentine. But walking around and pouting with the hope they would pull the trigger on a deal is not in his DNA.
“I just got to take it a day at a time,’’ Valentine said. “I can’t try and think about the future and worry about the future because you never know what’s going to happen. If I get moved or if I stay here, either way I’m happy I’m in the NBA, living my dream.’’
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January 12, 2020 at 08:26AM
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Guard Denzel Valentine is done pretending he’s happy with the Bulls - Chicago Sun-Times
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