Murphy - on Bell

[Eggcentric@xxxxxxx]

< The C's also worked out Marcus Banks of Nevada-Las Vegas - a good 
alternative if, as expected, Gaines and Barbosa are snatched off the 
board. The 6-2 Banks is more of a project, a player said to need work 
in particular on fundamentals. > - Murphy

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C's aren't guarded in backcourt desire
by Mark Murphy
Monday, June 23, 2003

Not surprisingly, the Celtics have run more playmakers through the 
doors of their practice facility in Waltham over the last two weeks 
than have played for the team in the last two years.

It may not be their only need, but the position of point guard has 
certainly been identified by Danny Ainge and Co. as a major position of 
need. After leading the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals in 
2002, Kenny Anderson was shipped to Seattle in the offseason for Vin 
Baker. Not only did Baker end up in alcohol rehab, the C's were forced 
to man the point with Tony Delk, a converted off guard, and JR Bremer, 
an undrafted free agent out of St. Bonaventure.

Now the challenge is to actually go out and find a bona fide 1-guard 
with either the 16th or 20th pick in Thursday night's NBA draft.

The point guard field may be the deepest in memory - with everything 
from pure playmakers to hot-scoring combo guys recording outstanding 
workouts - but it will also be the subject of a major run.

Consider the value of Reece Gaines, a 6-foot-6 guard from Louisville 
who can score and set up his teammates with equal flair. The Celtics 
love him, as do the Magic, which pick right in front of the locals at 
No. 15.

Indeed, you can hear Gaines' name linked to teams that have low lottery 
picks, such as Seattle at No. 12. So as good as some of these prospects 
sound, they can fly off the board awfully fast.

Leandrinho Barbosa, a 6-3 legend who is one of the greatest scorers in 
the history of Brazilian basketball, also had a strong workout with the 
Celtics. His ballhandling is said to be magical, and his athleticism 
explosive.

The Celtics were also intrigued enough to bring in Zoran Planinic, a 
6-7 guard from Bosnia who can play both backcourt positions, but was 
known in particular for his court vision.

The C's also worked out Marcus Banks of Nevada-Las Vegas - a good 
alternative if, as expected, Gaines and Barbosa are snatched off the 
board. The 6-2 Banks is more of a project, a player said to need work 
in particular on fundamentals.

Then again, one player the Celtics have always liked may be sitting 
there for them at No. 20.

There hasn't been a lot of talk about Boston College's Troy Bell upward 
of the 20th pick, despite the fact that athletically he was rated as 
one of the top three point guard prospects in Chicago's pre-draft camp.

For a Celtics team that needs a third scoring option as desperately as 
it needs a playmaker to take the burden off Antoine Walker, Bell may be 
the player who grows into both roles.

And most of all, he's likely to be on the board when it's the Celtics' turn.