NEWSLETTER
On Monday, the Chicago Bulls made their first significant roster decision, extending a $4.7 million qualifying offer to 2016 first-round pick Denzel Valentine (while NOT extending an offer to Kris Dunn).
Today, Valentine has reportedly accepted that offer:
Free agent Denzel Valentine has signed a one-year, $4.7M (qualifying offer) deal with the Bulls, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 21, 2020
As Eli put it when the offer was extended …
Valentine is one of the team’s more consistent 3-point threats, and he happens to possess the best all-around skill set out of the three players who are up for qualifying offers (Dunn and also Shaquille Harrison). The Bulls also have had rumored interest in adding another facilitating guard [which they did last night in the form of free agent Garrett Temple] into the mix for weeks now, so opting to keep a player that promotes more ball movement over a defense menace fits what appears to be the team’s current philosophy. Also, for what it’s worth, I think someone like Valentine could be put to pretty good use under Donovan.
Sure, someone could argue that Valentine could have been kept around on a smaller deal, but I guess this franchise didn’t want to risk losing him. He has maintained health for a good period of time now, and perhaps he showed promise to the front office during the mini-camp.
Free agency moved along just fine last night and players were getting plenty of money despite the broader financial environment, but Valentine’s acceptance is still no surprise. With Temple on board and this deal in place, the Bulls are at 15 guaranteed roster spots.
Deleted earlier Tweet that listed Temple twice instead of Williams. Here’s “get me rewrite” version.
Bulls roster as of today:
G: LaVine, White, Satoransky, Valentine, Arcidiacono, Temple
F: Porter, Markkanen, Young, Hutchison, Williams
C: Carter, Gafford, Kornet, Felicio
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) November 21, 2020
