Chicago Bulls swingman Denzel Valentine expressed his displeasure after getting benched by head coach Jim Boylen over a week ago and Boylen understands why.
Valentine has only played in 22 games this season for the Bulls. Boylen says he doesn't expect Valentine to be happy about not playing:
Jim Boylen on Denzel Valentine: "I don’t expect him to be happy about not playing. My expectation for him is to stay ready and, when called upon, try to produce and help us win. He’s a pro and we expect him to be a pro. He's been great so far. He works. He cares."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 13, 2020
Valentine, a restricted free agent next summer, has yet to demand a trade. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting Valentine is not a part of the Bulls' long-term plan.
“I’m definitely not happy about it. I’m a competitor. I want to play, I want to be productive … He didn’t really say why. He’s the coach, and he feels like he wants to do that,” Denzel Valentine said about Jim Boylen benching him.
The 14th overall pick in the 2016 draft, Valentine is averaging 6.0 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists this season while shooting 41.7 percent from the field, 38.4 percent from beyond the arc and a perfect 100 percent from the free-throw line.
The Bulls are 14-26 on the season. They are tied with the Detroit Pistons for the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference, although Chicago holds the tiebreaker over Detroit since they are 4-0 against the Pistons this season.
Valentine, 26, has career averages of 7.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 156 games with the Bulls.
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