Da Windy City
Fansided

Chicago Bulls: 5 most surprising quotes from 2019 Media Day

By Austin Carroll

MADISON, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 11: Coby White of the Chicago Bulls poses for a portrait during the 2019 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 11, 2019 at the Ferguson Recreation Center in Madison, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
MADISON, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 11: Coby White of the Chicago Bulls poses for a portrait during the 2019 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 11, 2019 at the Ferguson Recreation Center in Madison, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls /

“Denzel Valentine and Wendell Carter Jr. are good to go.”

– John Paxson

Let’s make one thing clear, the exclusion of quotes from front office figureheads like John Paxson, Gar Forman and head coach Jim Boylen was very much an intentional move on my part. Part of their job description is mastering the craft of press conference rhetoric. It’s very hard to tell if what they’re telling you about what goes on behind the scenes is the truth, or a crafty maneuver to sell more season ticket packages.

But this comment in particular, this is interesting.

In case you’ve forgotten, Denzel Valentine hasn’t suited up for the Chicago Bulls since April 1, 2018. He didn’t play a single game last season due to a mysterious injury. About that, let’s recount Valentine’s wild ride and how we got to where we are today.

  • [K.C. Johnson] Fred Hoiberg said Denzel Valentine tweaked his ankle and will be out 1-2 weeks. – September 28, 2018
  • [Darnell Mayberry] Denzel Valentine had a scan yesterday that showed decreased swelling, Hoiberg says. Team will increase his workload. Still no timetable on his return. – November 2, 2018
  • [Shams Charania] Bulls’ Denzel Valentine will undergo reconstruction surgery on his left ankle and be sidelined 4-to-6 months. – November 19, 2018
  • [Daniel Greenberg] With Bulls training camp starting this week, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Denzel Valentine (foot surgery) is not expected to be ready for full basketball activity. – September 30, 2019

So what’s really going on here? Are we really being led to believe that a “tweaked ankle” has had Denzel sidelined from playing basketball for longer than an entire year now? This appears to be gross incompetence from the medical staff, misdiagnosing an injury this severe.

Considering how Lauri Markkanen suffered from severe fatigue last season which led to heart palpitations, this appears to be a recurring theme. I’d say something big changes need to be made around here, but apparently the Bulls have it all under control — at least, that’s what Paxson wants us to believe.

If Paxson says he’s ready to go, he better be ready to go. Entering a contract year with the Bulls, Valentine will need every opportunity to shake off the rust and prove he wasn’t a wasted lottery pick. This will be a big storyline that should unfold over the course of the preseason.

Home/Chicago Bulls