Michigan State's Valentine compares his game to Celtics' Turner

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CHICAGO – If the Celtics plan on adding to their collection of ball handlers, NBA Draft prospect Denzel Valentine checks all the boxes. As a senior at Michigan State, the 22-year-old displayed an impeccable blend of versatility, passing vision, and shooting ability.

Valentine operates pick-and-rolls with the precision of a brain surgeon.  At 6-foot-6 with a 6-11 wingspan, he has the size to see and pass over the defense. In that sense, he’s similar to Celtics guard Evan Turner, who Valentine compared himself to at the NBA combine.

“[He’s a] big guard that can do multiple things...We’re like the same size, same length,” Valentine said. “With his versatility, he can get on the court and get things done. And I think he’s a winner.”

At an event where weightless hyperbolic comparisons are made, it’s impressive to hear such a realistic statement from a potential lottery pick.

Like Turner, Valentine fills multiple roles and is a triple-double threat. He averaged 19.2 points, 7.8 assists, and 7.5 rebounds per game as the AP Player of the Year. He’s also a methodical passer, a crafty mid-range scorer, and he rebounds at a high level.

It may seem the Celtics are already overflowing with playmakers, with a roster that included Turner, Isaiah Thomas, Marcus Smart, and Terry Rozier. But Turner is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so there could be a void. Still, even if Turner is re-signed, playmaking is a skill the Celtics can’t get enough of.

“The more ball handlers you have, the better,” coach Brad Stevens said this past season. “The biggest thing is it gets Isaiah off the ball...It takes some of the heat off him to not always have it.”

The Celtics used multiple ball handlers frequently after the All-Star break. Nearly one-fourth of their lineups featured three primary ball handlers (Turner, Thomas, Smart, and Rozier), which illustrates its importance to the team.

Though the Celtics didn’t interview Valentine at the combine, there is one person in the organization with an established connection to him.

While Stevens was the coach at Butler he recruited Valentine, then a four-star high school recruit. But by the time Butler entered the picture, he was prepared to commit to Michigan State, Valentine told CSN. Butler did express a ton of interest though, so it wouldn’t be stunning if Stevens still fancied Valentine after watching him blossom from a pure passer into a star shooter.

The Turner comparison is a good one, but ET doesn’t have a flamethrower jumper. Valentine was one of college basketball’s deadliest shooters after draining 44.4 percent of his threes as a senior. He’s not just a knockdown spot up shooter either, as he’s tremendous at using screens to get open and he can pull up over screens with ease.

The Celtics are thirsting for shooters; they rank 29th in three-point shooting percentage over the past three seasons (only the 76ers shot worse). Their lack of floor spacing has impeded their offense and Valentine could be an immediate help.

But first Valentine will have to improve on the defensive end to earn minutes anywhere. In college, he struggled to stay in front of quicker ball handlers and larger players overpowered him at times. But he did show signs of progress at the combine by posting the fourth-best lane-agility time.

“That’s just something I try to work hard on every day, to try to get better at my athleticism,” Valentine said. “I continue to make strides.”

If Valentine does improve, he projects as a multi-positional defender because of his size and length. Valentine often gets compared to Draymond Green because of their Michigan State connection, but it’s notable Green was labeled a non-defender coming out of school before developing into one the league’s best defenders.

Valentine said he has the mental makeup that will enable him to grow defensively, as Green and Turner have throughout their NBA careers.

“Those guys are winners and they’re tough as nails. They have a will to win and I have the same capabilities,” Valentine explained. “We might not have the best athleticism, height, or things like that, but I just think if you want to do something and you have the will to do it, you’re gonna find a way to get it done.”

It’s unfair to expect any player to reach that elite level, but it’s possible for Valentine to exceed expectations considering his tools and mentality.

With three first-round picks, the Celtics are equipped to target Valentine. He’s projected to go within the range of their No. 16 pick, though he could go higher if he performs well in workouts.

Valentine has the type of versatile traits valued in today’s NBA. He could even be the steal of the draft if he lands in the right situation. Maybe that lucky team will be the Celtics.

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