New Orleans Pelicans: 3 low-cost, low-risk options at NBA Trade Deadline
By Willie Lutz
Denzel Valentine, G/F, Chicago Bulls
Adding more shooting is certainly something many teams around the league would like to add around the deadline, so one of the hottest names in recent weeks before the NBA Trade Deadline has been Denzel Valentine of the Chicago Bulls.
In his third full year of NBA basketball after missing last season with an injury, Valentine is averaging just 5.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists while shooting 35.6% from three on 3.4 attempts per contest.
Seemingly, the Bulls aren’t interested in making him a part of the gameplan, as he’s averaged just 12.2 minutes per contest in 30 games, so he can be had for maybe just one or two second-round selections.
If the Pelicans decide to make a move for Valentine at the deadline, it would certainly improve the floor spacing among their second unit.
With Valentine’s knack for navigating the perimeter, he seems like a smart option to add to a Pelicans’ bench that sometimes has a hard time reading the floor and creating shots without the ball in their hands.
Currently receiving limited opportunities for involvement in Jim Boylen’s offense, trading Valentine seems like a likely reality for the Bulls, who are currently 19-33 and the ninth-seed in the East, as the team stands 3.5 games out of the playoffs.
Regardless, Valentine is a former four-year player at Michigan State and was a first-round selection by Chicago just a few short years ago at the 2016 NBA Draft.
Perhaps Chicago would be interested in an end-of-the-bench piece from the New Orleans Pelicans like Jahlil Okafor. Afterall, Okafor is from Chicago and in the past has made comments about his desire to do right by his home city.