Can Denzel Vlentine Replace ET?

[Big333223]

Basically averaged 19-8-8 for the Spartans this season and he shot 44% from 3. I get the concernt that he's already 22 but it's not like there are other seniors who are putting up those numbers.

He was also a little shorter at the combine than I thought, 6'4" w/out shoes. But he's got an almost 6'11" wingspan and good physicality. Is there a possibility that he's Evan Turner with a 3 point shot?

[The Rondo Show]

Yes. He's a no-brainer if available at 16

[OHCeltic]

Yes he can Easily  That would be a really good pick at 16.

[Evantime34]

Valentine can replace some of what Turner did. He can absolutely replace Turner as a guard and a ball handler for the second unit. I think counting on Valentine to close games the way Turner did, is expecting too much. Valentine's defense will be nowhere near Evan Turner's of last year.

Long term I think he's a great replacement for Turner, but he will take a couple years of experience before he approaches Turner's defense.

Smart, and Rozier are going to do a lot of the replacing of Turner if he leaves.

[alldaboston]

Evan the closer is someone that Denzel cannot replace. Evan single handedly won us games this year, with his patented mid range jumpers and behind the back moves to get to the rim.

[acieEarl]

The nice thing with drafting Denzel is he'll be able to step right up and give us good minutes. Not sure he can replaces Turners scoring ablilty but may be a better all around player.

[Tr1boy]

his D really worries me. 

[Csfan1984]

Korkmaz plz

[IDreamCeltics]

I've never seen a guy who's 6'6 in shoes and dominated college basketball knocked for lack of size and athleticism like Valentine.  It's like the games don't mean anything at all. 

Evan Turner had some great moments this season, but he's so limited in his impact because of his lack of shooting.  If he doesn't have the ball in his hands he's basically useless on the court (see: his Indiana Pacers career).

Valentine hit 41% from three last year and 44% from three this year.  He'll be able to play 3-4 positions in the NBA based on match ups, his passing and decision making are both superior to Turner's (2.7 A/To ratio last year) and his team defense is very good.

I've seen people question his ability to defend faster players in isolation.  I guess that's a valid concern, but when the entire league is running pick and roll's and he's great at playing team defense, fighting through picks, and switching I don't really get why anyone would say he can't be an effective NBA defender.   

He's like what everyone is praying RJ hunter becomes.       

[MaxAMillion]

He is the perfect pick at 16. I hope the C's draft him if he is there...if not I hope they go for Brice Johnson. I prefer more experienced players as mid round picks. Less chance of making a mistake. I wanted DA to draft Rodney Hood (I am partial to ACC players) instead of going with a younger player who could easily bust. Hopefully the C's learned their lesson.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

He can, doesn't he?

- He can pass the ball, has good court vision.
- Decent to good ball handler.
- Decent to good scorer, probably a better shooter.
- Can play both wing spots, and probably at point.

So the next question will be, should we have two Evan Turner's?

[CFAN38]

For the most part I feel trying to replace ET with a player with a similar game may not be whats best for this team. Turner for as good as he is/was with the Celtics isn't with out his warts. I really think in order for this team to take the next step (aside from massive roster shaking trades) Smart needs to become the secondary ball handler and Turners role needs to be filled with a more traditional wing scorer. For example drafting Hield would give the Cs a very different offensive dynamic as would signing a player like Fournier.

With that said I have no issue drafting Valentine. He is a question mark on defense but I cant think of a migh st player who couldn't defend. He is also a much better shooter then Turner and would likely beat out Hunter and Young for minutes as a rookie.

[snively]

Valentine and ET are similar in that they can both clean the defensive glass like PFs and can pass the ball at high levels, but they are very different types of players.

ET is a primary half-court shot-creator. He can dribble and create against pressure a la Pierce. His problem is that he can't shoot or score like Pierce.

Valentine is a secondary half-court shot-creator a la Draymond Green or Boris Diaw. He doesn't have the smooth handle to operate in isolation like ET, but his vision and intelligence allow him to serve as an excellent secondary playmaker when someone else does the initial hard work of breaking down the D. On the fastbreak, also like Green and Diaw, he can serve as a primary creator, taking advantage of the inherent fluidity of transition to find good scoring opportunities. Great advance passer.

What makes Valentine unique is that shooting ability. ET of course can't shoot a lick, and Green and Diaw have always been mediocre from distance. But Valentine can shoot with accuracy and volume, spotting up, off dribble hand offs and off screens. That could make him far more dangerous than Green, Diaw or ET offensively.

I think he has a chance to be one of the top 5 players from this draft.  The big thing potentially holding him back is his D. But his agility graded out very nicely at the combine and guys with his physical profile (Wes Matthews, Landry Fields) have done pretty well defensively .

For me, it's Valentine or bust beyond the BK pick. If he's gonna go higher than the Dallas pick, I'd happily trade that pick plus #23 and any 2nds to go up and grab him.