While his failures in the NBA draft are always loudly pointed to by his detractors, former Boston Celtics president of basketball operations and current Utah Jazz head honcho Danny Ainge has done well finding gems in the first round, including Celtics reserve forward Grant Williams.
Ainge drafted Williams 22nd in the 2019 NBA draft. The pick was quickly followed by plenty of complaints that he had not gone for any of several other available players still on the board. But in a recent 2019 re-draft put together by the folks over at Hoops Hype, its panel took Williams nine slots higher based on his elite defense and lethal shot from beyond the arc, particularly in the corners.
“Grant Williams’ impact goes beyond the stat sheet,” writes H/H. “That Williams was an important role player on a Boston Celtics team that made it to the finals in 2021-22 goes to show just how impactful he can be without averaging double-digit points.”
“Williams has developed into a reliable threat from 3 and he can legitimately defend multiple positions thanks to his size, strength, and quick feet,” they add.
While it may be an uphill battle for the former Tennessee standout to get the sort of contract he is likely hoping for as a restricted free agent, he certainly will be a player teams consider extending an offer sheet to this summer, even if Boston will almost certainly match it.
As it should.
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