Grant Williams - Pick #22

Cellar-Door

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A few guys were really high on Williams, Vecine had him as the 15th best prospect, Danny Chau had him 13th, Tjarks had him 12th, and Tjarks had him as one of the 5 best playmakers in the draft regardless of position.
 

Swedgin

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How is his wingspan and how are his shooting mechanics? Being a 6’7” PF isn’t like it was a decade ago.
Over 81% from the line.

Per the Stepien "Good shooter with good form, a high release point, and a very soft touch. Release goes between quicker releases on some basic off screen shooting and slower release on basic catch and shoot attempts. He does not sacrifice form (or accuracy from what I’ve seen) when he has to speed up his release – does not get flustered by people closing out. Sets himself pretty quickly off screens, but generally likes setting his feet..."
 

PedroKsBambino

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The 3.2 assists from Williams is pretty interesting. I didn't see enough TN games to know how real that is, but sure helps the value if he's a plus passer who can defend at least some bigs.
 

128

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First two-time SEC player of the year since Corliss Williamson, I believe.
 

Cellar-Door

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Oh in my list of draft guys who love Williams I forgot Kevin O'COnnor who had him EIGHTH!
 

Cellar-Door

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His combine was interesting when comparing him to the other PFs


GOOD:
Low body fat despite weighing in at 240
Big hands
Ridiculous bench press (20 reps, 2nd had 15, nobody else over 11)
Excellent lane agility (2nd best PF)
Shot well on stationary shots every but top of the key
One of the best off the ball shooter from 15ft.

BAD:
low end height and wingspan
Vertical was not good

MEDIOCRE:
Middling shuttle and 3/4 sprint
 

fairlee76

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I did not watch a ton of college ball last season but I liked this dude in the few UT games I saw. Strong, seemed to always be in the right place, resourceful scorer, and high release point which should help his height/vertical limitations.

Plus, sounds like he believes the Earth is round. So, not insane which is nice.
 

NomarsFool

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I'm warming up to him. The height gives me pause, but he does have an above average wingspan - I believe, so maybe he's not that undersized. Does seem like he could replace some of Mook's minutes next season and it looks like Williams actually understands that the pass is a legal play in basketball.
 

Kliq

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Wingspan has become like, really overrated by draftniks. It's not unimportant, but it shouldn't scare anyone away from an otherwise strong prospect. I like a guy that has shown consistent improvement year-over-year as a college player, eventually turning into one of the best players in the country.
 

BaseballJones

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Eddie Jurak

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My brother (sprinting coach) thoughts on Grant Willams: "Movement looks inhibited by a stiff lower back...very limited range of motion in his SI joint...which is too bad bc he has some skill and looks like a load. Wonder if there's an injury history there. If his body could twist a little bit he could be really, really good."
 

chilidawg

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Sox Puppet

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The Athletic also had a good profile on Grant Williams recently. It's a paid site, so I'll be judicious about quoting, but one takeaway is that his grandfather has been wanting him to be a Celtic ever since he was a kid. Even though they're from Charlotte, the family has always loved Boston:

“‘I’m proud of you, boy, you’re going to my team. You’re going to my favorite team, the Boston Celtics, man,’” Williams recalled in his old man voice that he insists sounds just like his grandfather. [....] Williams’ younger brother became a Patriots fan and his oldest is a Bruins fan. For some reason, his family from Charlotte had always just naturally gravitated toward Boston teams.

“[Grant's grandfather] was just talking about how much he would love it if I end up playing for Boston, because he would always come visit me,” Williams told The Athletic. “The fact that it actually happened and to see his face, that was one of the best things that happened last night.”

Landing with one of the two teams on his preferred list was not just a thrill for his family, but he also sees it as a key for his potential to maximize his career. Williams said he loves Al Horford and spent the last two years studying how the Celtics used him in their offense, something he will try to emulate as a short rolling screener or midrange shot creator.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Although I don't agree with everything he writes, I do like the way Rubin ended his article: "I say over and over again that the search when watching should be asking which player knows how to play, especially as you move to more skilled positions, but latent in that statement is that the search should be for intuition. Which players are really intuitive?"

I.e., teams should draft more players who know how to play basketball.
 

DJnVa

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https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/celtics-rookies-show-immediate-chemistry-video-games-and-late-night-facetiming
“We were talking on FaceTime, and I had just gotten into Boston, and [Williams] was like, ‘Do you want to play games?’” explained second-round pick Carsen Edwards. "And I’m like, ‘Dude, I just got here.’ He’s like, ‘I play board games, too.’ It’s just stuff you don’t expect but he’s a really good dude. And I’m excited to be around him and get to know him more as a person.”
 

bowiac

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Although I don't agree with everything he writes, I do like the way Rubin ended his article: "I say over and over again that the search when watching should be asking which player knows how to play, especially as you move to more skilled positions, but latent in that statement is that the search should be for intuition. Which players are really intuitive?"
This matches my general view as to what I look for in a player, even when it comes at the expense of measurables. When you look at the most successful non-lottery picks in the NBA, anecdotally, it seems like they're guys with preternatural basketball IQ who lack physical gifts, rather than physically talented guys without a feel for the game. (And obviously guys with the basketball IQ and the physical tools just tend to be lottery picks).

In other words, I'm very happy to end up with Grant Williams here, and not like, Nassir Little.
 

BigSoxFan

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This matches my general view as to what I look for in a player, even when it comes at the expense of measurables. When you look at the most successful non-lottery picks in the NBA, anecdotally, it seems like they're guys with preternatural basketball IQ who lack physical gifts, rather than physically talented guys without a feel for the game. (And obviously guys with the basketball IQ and the physical tools just tend to be lottery picks).

In other words, I'm very happy to end up with Grant Williams here, and not like, Nassir Little.
Yup. This draft had the perfect balance.
 

Imbricus

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In that Vanderbilt game, did you see he was like 21 for 21 from the foul line? Damn, that's incredible.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Pretty excited about this guy. I hope he has been in the gym shooting threes non-stop. Feels like the kind of profile that outplays his draft slot: older, very polished, good passer, strong as hell.
 

benhogan

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Pretty excited about this guy. I hope he has been in the gym shooting threes non-stop. Feels like the kind of profile that outplays his draft slot: older, very polished, good passer, strong as hell.
He was young for being a Junior

He's only 20.5 (ie De'Andre Hunter is a year older than him, even though he is a Soph)
 

The Mort Report

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I think when you are trying to find a franchise player in the lottery age is very important, but when you’re picking in the 20’s your expected highest outcome is a 6th man. Obviously there are examples of doing better but I would imagine that is the realistic ceiling. Even if the guy is a year older that means he has another year under his belt knowing his game, knowing who he is. Unless it’s an extreme lotto ticket I think this is the best way to draft in the 20’s and beyond
 

benhogan

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I think when you are trying to find a franchise player in the lottery age is very important, but when you’re picking in the 20’s your expected highest outcome is a 6th man. Obviously there are examples of doing better but I would imagine that is the realistic ceiling. Even if the guy is a year older that means he has another year under his belt knowing his game, knowing who he is. Unless it’s an extreme lotto ticket I think this is the best way to draft in the 20’s and beyond
Landry Shamet, Kuzma, Josh Hart, Malcolm Brogdon, Monte Morris and Derek White all agree with you...VanVleet still waiting to get called in the draft

hmmmm plenty of guards. bodes well for Carsen Edwards?
 

RedOctober3829

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I knew I loved this kid, but man do I love him after reading this Jay King article. I'm so excited to see him grow as a player, but as a teammate he gets it already. Night and day from what we've heard about what really went on with last year's team. Guys said these things last year, but we knew they did not really mean it.

LAS VEGAS — It doesn’t take much time around Grant Williams to realize “impact winning” ranks as one of his favorite phrases. The Celtics’ first-round pick stressed on draft night he wanted to do whatever he could to impact winning. He emphasized the same goal after Summer League practices and again following his first Summer League game. Williams does not worry about his scoring or rebounding numbers. He did not care about coming off the bench during his Summer League debut.
“For me,” Williams said, “it was just a matter of having the mindset of I want to come in and help impact winning, whatever I have to do.”
Williams has thought about his fit in the league for a while. He doesn’t necessarily lay down with that thought in his head every night but has noticed, for example, the way the NBA has shifted over the past decade or so. He sees how Serge Ibaka, once an interior player, has gravitated more toward the 3-point arc over the years. Williams recognizes the importance of defensive versatility and knows not everybody can serve in a primary playmaking role. For a rookie, he seems to have a strong grasp on the ways he will need to adapt to succeed in a more challenging basketball world. He won’t spend as much time posting up or running offense. He will spend more time spotting up and playing off others.
“There’s only certain elite guys that can just go out there and score,” Williams said. “Like, Lou (Williams) is a guy that he just goes and gets buckets. He doesn’t necessarily have to play defense. He’s a bucket. But everybody else has to buy into their role. So for me, it’s just a matter of whatever a coach needs me to do to win, that’s what I’ve gotta do, whether it’s knocking down 3s or defending the best player or getting rebounds or hitting everybody. It’s just a matter of whatever you ask.”
Williams said he compared himself to defensive-minded pros such as Draymond Green and P.J. Tucker. Those are ambitious choices, maybe the NBA’s two most versatile defenders, but Williams didn’t just stop at listing their names. He also pointed out the areas currently separating those players from him. To emerge as a defender in Tucker’s mold, Williams said he will need to prove capable of switching onto the quickest guards.
“It’s really the lateral quickness and being able to guard multiple positions on the perimeter,” Williams said Sunday. “He can guard a guy like Jaren Jackson then switch onto Mike Conley. So myself, it’s all about I’ve been proving that I can guard guys 3-through-5, maybe some 2s, but when I switch onto a Mike Conley or Dame Lillard — there’s not many people who can guard them in general. Just being able to make them take the shot that your team needs them to take, that’s something that I need to improve on. And that’s something that I understand about myself. So it’s something I have to get better at every day.”
https://theathletic.com/1066631/2019/07/07/grant-williams-adjusting-his-mindset-ready-to-do-the-dirty-work-for-the-celtics/
 

Reverend

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DJnVa

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It's Summer League, so you know, but the Celtics are +41 when he's on the floor, and -3 when he's off.
 

Spelunker

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On the flip side, that 2nd clip- while showing off his Hordordesque defensive captain skills- also includes something that I feel like will cause a lot of gamethread consternation: a rebound he can't quiiitte get to.
 

Big John

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If Williams were an inch taller with a wider wingspan, he might be a Jared Sullinger clone at 250 lbs instead of 300+ lbs.. Alas, he'll never be the rebounder Sullinger was because of his physical limitations. He's a good player, though. I think Jared Dudley is a reasonable comp.
 

RetractableRoof

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I don't know, Sullinger seemed to carry much more of his weight in fat stores than Grant is. Grant also seems very strong for his size/weight combo. I can see getting into more fundamentally sound rebounding positions than I remember of Sullinger. (I could very well be experiencing faulty memory wrt to Sullinger though.) I could see him rebounding at the same level as Sullinger (on a per/36 basis) very quickly. There are a lot of undersized players who rebound well due to timing and BBIQ. I defer to anyone who has seen a bit of him - I'm just going on youtube coverage and summer league and analysis clips included with writeups. I could see him on the floor in Boston getting minutes early and earning them.
 

benhogan

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Sullinger and Grant Williams have had really different paths.

Sullinger was a super hyped, #1 prospect coming out of high school and just got heavier every season.

Williams was a heavyset kid in high school, barely recruited, that has got leaner and better every season.
 

luckiestman

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I probably saw every game Sully played for the Cs. He was a very good rebounder. I think he had a 25/25 game or was close.


Edit: 25/20 in his second year against Toronto