Celtics Add The Strongest Motherfucker Alive In Grant Williams At 22

You know what rule? Combat muscles. You know what also rules? Adding one of the strongest dudes the NBA has ever seen to a group that already employs Marcus Smart, and Semi Ojeleye. Sure Grant is a little undersized, but he’s another guy that help improves areas that the Celtics desperately need help in. The same way Romeo Langford is great at getting to the line, the same is true of Grant Williams

he got to the line 7 times a game as a forward and for a team that was basically dead last at getting to the line in the Celtics I’ll take all the help I can get. Everything you read about him tells you he’s a fantastic team player and a great presence in the locker room. Can you think of anything this team needs more than that right now? Many are calling him a high impact role player which last time I checked is exactly what you’re looking for at 22. If you’re looking for specifics, here’s a good idea

- Jumper: 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. Sometimes his balance in the lower body appears off with his feet coming in a bit closer than normally you want. Moves well off ball / finding the open spot. Can hit jumpers from anywhere on the court, though he has to improve his range and shoot more threes at a higher volume to maximize his value. Likes to jab step to create space, and does a nice job using pump fakes to get a clearer look. Can get into shot pocket off of bad passes well. Nice rip-through jumper.

– Shot Versatility: C&S, PnP big probably. Can shoot off a little bit of motion, but not someone who can run off multiple screens – does not run very hard through screens. Does not have the ability to create for himself off the dribble, nor will he be asked to do so – will be a play finisher for himself (and can create a little for others with his plus passing ability).

– Shot IQ: Good shot IQ. Plays to his strengths on offense, in the post and jumpers. Can create for himself out of the mid-post and high-post/elbow. Nice job using jab steps and pump fakes to get better looks. Likely won’t be posting up as much as he did in college, but will be able to take advantage of mismatches. Showed potential this year in C&S and PnP situations, including out to three (though he has to continue to improve his range – can hit jumpers out to and including three, but needs more volume from three). Can attack closeouts well and take advantage of speed advantage on the perimeter a little, too. Does a nice job using his strength on drives and around the basket.

– Finishing: Not much vertical pop, but he’s a very good finisher in the paint. Does a great job using his strength to keep defenders off of him / away from the ball, can finish with either hand, and uses his length well to finish around defenders. Can finish through defenders / through contact, also – 36 and 1s. Not afraid of being hit in the paint and does a great job displacing opposing defenders around the basket. Has a good post up game, too. Can finish over either shoulder with a variety of moves and uses his strength well in the paint, too.

– Handle: Good handle, but not great. Can piece together a few dribble moves pretty seamlessly and does a nice job getting to his spot. Handle can get *a bit* loose at times, but it’s not out of the ordinary.

– Passing: High level passer for a big. He does an awesome job reading the defense and not only hitting an open man, but hitting the right man. Can beat teams on the short roll, out of the low post, and out of the high post. Does not force many passes and his teammates should always be aware that a pass may be coming – does a great job reading the floor for a bit.

There’s a lot to like in there. Could he be an in shape Jared Sullinger? Perhaps. Could he be a strong as fuck glue guy that won’t be a problem in terms of chemistry? Sure sounds like it. Now for the defense

- General Notes: Very good defender with a very high IQ. Not particularly athletic, but moves well (though slower) and has solid hip turns…which are quicker than you’d expect for someone his size. Knows how to get by that with his IQ, great anticipation shadowing movements, and great team defense. Nice job staying in his stance. Great rotations on defense and does a great job helping when someone gets taken off the bounce. Can rotate for charges, to contest shots in the paint, or on switches when needed. He rotates well, but is not always quick to the rotation – if he does not recognize it quickly enough, he will not be able to affect it much. Generally speaking, he needs to stop going for fakes and biting on dribble moves – this happens too much. Good rim protector, but lacks vertical pop which brings into question how good a rim protector he will be in the NBA – athletes were able to rise above him for the finish. Strong upper body, so he does NOT get displaced on drives. Good post defender, but needs to stop leaning on his upper body strength and use more of his lower body strength. Shows great effort on defense, too. Nice job contesting perimeter jumpers, even though he’s not explosive. Needs to continue to work on improving athleticism, if he hasn’t maxed out there already, and the silly fouls need to stop too.

– Rim Protection: Good rim protector, but not explosive in paint – his rim protection is based on timing and rotations (really smart rotations for charges and just contests). Can protect from behind. Explosive rim runners are able to finish above him even if he is there in time due to lack of elite length for a 4 and lack of vertical pop. He’s smart in his rotations, but is not always quick to the spot because of lack of burst – it looks like he recognizes it, but can’t explode. Does a really nice job of keeping vertical but is prone to biting on pump fakes. Does a nice job using his chest in the paint also – offensive players bounce back off of him instead of displacing him. Nice job protecting from behind if ball handler is able to get by him…which presents its own set of problems, but his ability to affect the shot attempt from behind is still good to see. Can protect the rim from the weak side a bit.

– Shot Contests: Nice job contesting jumpers – really makes an effort to get out to shooters. Has issues getting through screens, which isn’t surprising given his size and athletic concerns. Does a good job helping off ball and getting back to the man.

– Footwork: Has a good stance and stays in it, but is not that quick laterally…though he does turn his hips pretty well for someone his size. When he’s sliding in a straight line east-west he’s fine, but stop and go, change of pace/direction, etc he has issues. More of an anticipatory defender on the perimeter defending smalls and faceups. Slides well without crossing his feet, unless he’s recovering after being beat off the bounce. Goes for fakes / dribble moves a bit too much and can get shaken off the bounce, which kills him in ISO.

– Post Up: Good post defender, but has a ways to go technique wise. Does a nice job pushing post up options higher than they want to be to start their move. Needs to use his lower body strength more – he’s upper body heavy on his post defense, which will be a problem against bigger and better players. Needs to learn proper hand and foot placement. Bites on too many fakes in the post (including jab steps in the mid post, giving up angles to attack). Does a nice job contesting at the end of the attack with his length.

– Awareness: Very high IQ defensive player. Rotates really well in the paint and can pick up slack on the perimeter. Draws charges well. Does a great job playing in help defense – the pin, tagging off ball, etc. Does a nice job tagging the roll man and getting back to his man.

Again, I’m struggling to find something I don’t like. This late in the draft it’s all about finding a steal which admittedly Ainge has struggled with historically once he got to this range. When in doubt just draft strong dudes in my opinion and Grant Williams is certainly that.