Disappointing Return on Investment
When a team gets a lottery pick, the hope is that they draft a player who will turn into a cornerstone of the franchise. In 2016, the Bulls selected Denzel Valentine with the 14th pick in the draft. After being named AP Player of The Year as a senior at Michigan State, it appeared the franchise was fortunate that the 6’4″ SG was still available.
To draft Valentine, the Bulls overlooked Caris LeVert, drafted 20th by the Indiana Pacers, and Pascal Siakam, taken 27th by the Toronto Raptors. Unbiased observers would have to admit these two have produced at a much higher rate than Valentine at this point in their careers. While it may be unfair to use hindsight to reevaluate a draft’s selection order, the fact is Valentine was a high pick in a draft class filled with talent.
Warren Buffett once said “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” The 14th pick in the draft is a steep price to pay for a player. While Valentine has overcome adversity during his time in Chicago, the results have not justified the team’s investment in him.
This year is his fifth season as a pro. His identity in professional basketball is solidified. Unless there’s an unexpected boost in production, he will remain a solid rotation piece who can be counted on to give the starting guards a breather. Those were not the expectations when he was selected which is why it’s time to move in a different direction.