Celtics probing draft’s shooters, interview TCU’s Desmond Bane

Texas Christian product Desmond Bane has met with the Boston Celtics, and thinks he’d fit right in on both ends of the ball.

The Boston Celtics have their eye on Desmond Bane according to Fortune Sports’ Chris Grenham, who reports the Texas Christian prospect as sharing the team was his first pre-draft interview while speaking with the media Wednesday.

Bane — a 6-foot-6 shooting guard originally from Richmond, Indiana — is among the best shooters in the 2020 NBA Draft, yet for some reason is being projected towards the back end of the first round.

While some of that may be due to his age — he is a 22-year old prospect who played four seasons with the Horned Frogs — that he put up 6.5 3-point attempts per game while connecting on 44.2% of them is a fact teams drafting in his range ignore at their peril.

Even better, he’s a good defender who wants to become a better one.

“I’m kind of one of those junkyard dog guys similar to Marcus Smart,” he shared (via Grenham) while speaking with the media, in a move sure to catch the ear of any listening Celtics fan.

“He plays the game with a lot of heart and that’s something I really try to model. There’s 3 things you can control at all times. Your energy, your effort and your attitude. I feel like Marcus Smart does a great job of controlling those things.”

“He’s a junkyard dog who’s willing to do whatever,” added Bane. “He really thinks the game … That’s the reason why he’s carved out a great role in this league.”

While the former TCU guard may have a ways to go to catch up to Smart, he’s also got a very solid foundation to work with on that end of the ball, with UPROXX’s Jackson Frank grading his defensive skills fairly high.

“The intelligence, awareness, and constant motion that define much of Bane’s offensive skill package translates to his defense as well,” notes Frank.

“He’s at his best off the ball, rotating to help deter drives or draw charges and contesting shots at the rim or on the perimeter. Off-ball positioning is one of his greatest defensive strengths … Whether it be losing shooters or cutters, ball-watching lapses surface a bit more frequently than you’d like. But IQ and an active motor coalesce to yield a positively impactful defender. His functional strength and 6’6 frame also permit him to play up at times, and he’s held his own defending post-ups against switches.”

At 6.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, Bane rebounds well for his position and can playmake well enough to man the point when called on.

With his solid build and height, he’s a flexible defender as well, who would be a solid addition to the second unit almost immediately, with upside to grow into a starter role as well.

With word circulating that the Celtics have met with sharpshooting Stanford guard Tyrell Terry, it’s clear shooting is a priority for the team in the 2020 NBA Draft.

And if Desmond Bane ends up being a selection with one of their three first-round picks, they’ll have placed a solid bet on getting more of it on their roster.

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