Chicago Bulls: Ranking top 5 key players for 2018-2019
By Ryan Heckman
Shooting Guard/Small Forward Denzel Valentine
One of the areas I am worried about for the Bulls this coming season is at the wing position. Outside of their starting lineup, there isn’t much depth the team can count on. Sure, you have rookie first-rounder Chandler Hutchison waiting and developing. But, you also have veterans like Justin Holiday and Denzel Valentine.
Valentine is the one guy the front office and coaching staff seem to like the most between he and Holiday. Valentine garnered some praise following the season and it sounded like the team would move forward with him as a part of their core.
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What he does well
Statistically speaking, Valentine improved last season from a year ago. He showed that he can be a fairly well-rounded player off the bench. Valentine shot the three ball at a clip of over 38 percent last season and became one of the better deep shooters on the team. He also put up over five rebounds and three assists from a wing position.
What he needs to prove
Like many guys on the team, and specifically on the perimeter, Valentine can improve by showing the Bulls he can be a solid defender. Going into next season, I am no where near confident in the Bulls’ ability to defend the perimeter. The paint is a different story, but the perimeter? That could be quite scary. If Valentine wants to take his game to the next level, he can add perimeter defense to his arsenal and become twice the player he already is.