The Bulls’ Denzel Valentine hopes to star in ‘Trading Day’ on Thursday

It often has been a part of Bulls swingman Denzel Valentine’s ballhandling drills before games.

Crossover, crossover, then a quick hesitation dribble to keep the imaginary defender off-balance just when it looks like he’s going to attack the paint.

He’s mimicking that routine with the NBA trade deadline approaching Thursday: Say the right thing, don’t express the obvious displeasure he is feeling in his situation with the Bulls and keep trade rumors balanced between a grain of salt and hope.

All the while maintaining patience.

‘‘No, not really,’’ Valentine said when he was asked if his anxiety about a deal was growing. ‘‘I feel like everything is going to take care of itself. I can’t really control what happens, so I just have to come to work every day, stay positive and work hard.’’

That has been the typical response from Valentine this season, even when it became obvious in December that he had fallen out of favor with the coaching staff and a front office that selected him 14th overall in 2016.

If there’s a Bulls player that could be rocking the boat in Year 3 of the rebuild, it’s Valentine. When he has been given an opportunity, he has produced. Yes, he’s not the greatest athlete and doesn’t have a true position, but he has been the third-best three-point shooter on a team that has leaned on that weapon all season.

Still, before all the Bulls’ injuries, he barely was getting any consistent playing time outside of blowouts. Valentine expressed his frustration to the Sun-Times last month, but he never has demanded a trade from the front office.

‘‘Not really,’’ Valentine said when he was asked whether he had spoken with the front office lately about his future. ‘‘I kind of let things happen as is. I’m not really pressed either way. I feel like I just need to come to work every day and try and be productive on the court.’’

That’s why the list of trade candidates on the roster starts with Valentine. While there might not be a huge return for him, he’s the perfect piece in a package — to go along with, say, forward Thaddeus Young.

After that, however, the Bulls have very few chips to play with. Guard Kris Dunn (right knee), forward Otto Porter Jr. (left foot) and big man Wendell Carter Jr. (right ankle) are injured right now, and a source told the Sun-Times that big man Lauri Markkanen remains all but untouchable despite his disappointing season.

That leaves Valentine and Young as the two most attractive pieces.

Just don’t tell that to guard Zach LaVine, who said he doesn’t think anyone is safe at this time of year.

‘‘[Bleep], anybody could be traded, man,’’ LaVine said. ‘‘I’ll be watching. You never know with the NBA; it’s a business.

‘‘Since I’ve been here, there hasn’t been a whole lot of movement. It’s just the one [trade] from last year [Jabari Parker and Bobby Portis for Porter], but that was one of those you could almost see it coming. We’ll see. I always have my ear on what’s going on. I go out there and do my job if I’m here.

‘‘I’m not concerned, but anything can happen. It’s the NBA. Paul George and [Russell] Westbrook got traded, so shoot. . . . Shaq [O’Neal] got traded. [Bleep], you know what I mean. Anything can happen.’’

Valentine certainly hopes so.