For the third time in two days, a former Spartan has signed an NBA contract. First, it was Xavier Tillman and Cassius Winston signing their rookie deals. This time, it’s Denzel Valentine, who officially signed his qualifying offer to return to the Chicago Bulls on Monday.
Valentine’s qualifying offer will be for $4.7 million for the 2020-21 season. Denzel only played in 36 games last year, which might explain why he doesn’t want to test free agency. Valentine played 77 games in 2017-18 and averaged 10.2 points per game that year, so if he can show teams that he can play at that level he will be more likely to get a strong offer in the open market.
Valentine is a career 36.6% three-point shooter and he has played his whole career for the Bulls, who drafted him No. 14 overall in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Here is the team announcing the deal on Twitter:
Denzel Valentine is returning after signing his qualifying offer.
Welcome back, @DenzelValentine! pic.twitter.com/q04iBSUc8k
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 1, 2020
