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MSU’s Denzel Valentine: The Warriors’ Next Draymond Green?

By Hutchinson Fann

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Three of the four Final Four teams–Duke, Kentucky, and Wisconsin–boast surefire first round draft picks. Kentucky’s Karl Anthony-Towns and Duke’s Jahlil Okafor project to be the top two draft picks, but both teams are littered with other highly touted prospects. Wisconsin’s Sam Dekker and Frank Kaminsky, after strong tournament showings, will also have their names called early in this year’s June NBA Draft.

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Now enter Michigan State, the final Final Four team and the last non-one seed in the tournament. Their leader and best player, junior Denzel Valentine, might not even declare for the draft, despite leading his team to a Final Four appearance. The allure of another collegiate season, and another year of leading one of the nation’s most storied programs, is a sharp contrast to the frightening uncertainty Valentine would face entering the NBA Draft. “Tweeners” like Valentine, especially older “tweeners,” are usually ignored; high-upside, freakishly long, uber-athletic young players usually dominate the board.

But if Valentine does enter the draft, the Warriors should take him with their late first round pick.

Tweener, too small, not a polished enough scorer — Valentine has heard it all. Funnily enough, it is largely the same criticism that was once heaped on another Michigan State great — Draymond Green. And we all know how that turned out. For a team like the Warriors, a contender with a deep roster, Valentine, a 6’6 combo guard and knock-down shooter, would wreak havoc with the second unit.

Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) holds the ball away from Duke Blue Devils guard Grayson Allen (3) in the first half of the 2015 NCAA Men

Valentine, a tenacious defender, is already a much better shooter than Draymond Green ever was in college. This year, Valentine averaged 14.5 points with 41.6% shooting from three. In his junior year, Draymond Green averaged 8.6 points with 36.6% shooting from three.

Green averaged more rebounds, blocks, and steals, but Valentine was not far off. Similar too is their sizes: Green was 6-7 and 230 pounds as a senior, and Valentine is 6-6 and 220 as a junior.

Perhaps more important than their similar “tweenishness” (they both do not have a defined position in the NBA) is their similar competitiveness, their similar fire. We have seen Draymond Green play center, intimidate Blake Griffin, and defend the rim like Andrew Bogut. And last summer, Green and Valentine went head-to-head at a summer league game just outside of Lansing. Valentine scored 32 points, and Green 31; both players made a point of defending each other and attacking each other on offense.

Apr 4, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

“He’s grown a lot, he’s gotten a lot better,” Green told MLive. “Denzel is going to be good, really good.”

Imagine a Warriors’ second unit of Livingston, Holiday, Igoudala, Valentine, and Ezeli/Speights. On offense, they would spread out the defense with Valentine and Holiday’s shooting. On defense, their length, tenacity, and quickness would make up for any lack of size. Going small has worked for the Warriors this year, and Valentine would only bolster their bench.

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The Spurs have long buttressed their stars with a solid supporting cast. And their most important role players, the guys who have allowed the big three of Duncan, Parker, and Ginobli to thrive for so long, have been long, athletic wings who could shoot and defend. Three-and-D guys. Think Bruce Bowen, or Danny Green.

For the Warriors, a team following the Spurs’s model of success, think Denzel Valentine.

Next: Pelicans or Thunder: Does It Even Matter?

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