The Bulls had no problem introducing Denzel Valentine to the media on Monday.
Remembering the rest of a new-look roster that’s being thrown together?
Well, still a work in progress.
After general manager Gar Forman accidentally called Robin Lopez by his twin brother’s name, Brook, last week, coach Fred Hoiberg did the same when discussing the drafting of Valentine and the other additions to the Bulls roster this summer.
“You look at Brook Lopez as a guy that I’ve always thought very highly of, even going back to the draft when I was working in the front office in Minnesota,’’ Hoiberg said, talking about the trade of Derrick Rose to New York that brought back Lopez, Jerian Grant and Jose Calderon.
Well, maybe Hoiberg deserves a pass.
After all, not the easiest last few months, considering the team’s finish in his first year as coach, and now dealing with a roster turnover.
What Hoiberg was confident with was the idea that he and star Jimmy Butler can get on the same page this upcoming year and stay there.
“Yes, I can,’’ Hoiberg said, when asked if he was equipped to coach Butler. “Absolutely I can.
“I’ve been in a lot of conversations with Jimmy. I went out and saw him out in L.A. Had great talks with him. He was in back in Chicago last week, met with him on several occasions, and was in here in the gym when Jimmy was working out. I know he’s excited about things right now and about the upcoming year, and obviously about the Olympic team that he’s about to start the training for.’’
Hoiberg wouldn’t get into the details of what he and Butler discussed on the West Coast visit, but seemed confident that it sunk in.
“We talked about a lot of things,’’ Hoiberg said. “I don’t want to get into the exact specifics that we talked about, but the biggest thing with our group is we need to play more consistent basketball next year. You go 7-1 against Toronto and Cleveland, top two teams in the East, and you go 17-13 against the West, and we find ourselves out of the playoffs. That can’t happen. We have to play much more consistent basketball. That was a big thing that I not only talked to Jimmy, but a lot of our players about.’’
The hope is Valentine – picked 14th overall in the first round on Thursday – is another guy that will make sure that won’t happen.
The 6-foot-6 former Spartan is tough-minded and versatile. Two traits this Bulls team sorely needs.
“I mean you just gotta do what you gotta do,’’ Valentine said, when asked about his former college coach Tom Izzo saying that he’ll play through anything if it means winning. “Winning is key for me, and I hate letting my team down, so I want to play. I want to give it my all if I can go out there, no matter whatever happens. If I can play, I can play. The only thing that won’t let me play is if I really can’t.’’
So basically the antithesis of Rose.
As far as where he wants to play, well, the rook seems ready for anything asked of him.
“Pretty much anywhere one through three and guarding one through four,’’ Valentine said. “I like free-lancing and being able to do multiple things, playing multiple positions, so I can be versatile in that situation and make the most of what position I’m playing at that time.’’
