R-Dub: Time Lord, Tantalizing Sleeper, or Just a Late Flier?

ifmanis5

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EDIT: The Artist Formerly Known as The Tantalizer. Don't sleep on him.

Draft Twitter likes this pick.

Highlight Reels:
 
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ifmanis5

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Gotta be happy with Williams at 27. Rim protector that talented isn’t usually available at that late in the draft. Huge steal.
Yup.

Brad will coach him up and playing with other advanced scorers all he has to do is protect the rim, rebound and set screens. It's a great opportunity for him.
 

TripleOT

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Every 15 years, Ainge manages to find a center out of the state of Texas with the 27th pick. Williams is more athletic than Perkins. Hopefully, all the bad attitude talk won't mean anything once he becomes a Celtic.
 

ifmanis5

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Boston Celtics‏Verified account @celtics 24m24 minutes ago
Brad Stevens says we began eying Robert Williams when pick No. 17 rolled around: "Each pick, we were hoping more and more that he would be available at 27."


Jay King‏Verified account @ByJayKing 34m34 minutes ago
Robert Williams has Scal’s blessing to wear the number 44 for the Celtics.

gary washburn‏Verified account @GwashburnGlobe 53m53 minutes ago
If you're the #Celtics you have to ecstatic that Robert Williams is still available, a skilled defensive big who won't make much money for at least three years.

PM Sports News‏ @PMSportsNews 42m42 minutes ago
Robert Williams is heading to Boston. He is an absolute steal at 27. A monster rim protector who shows shades of DeAndre Jordan. He’s a future starting center in this league.
 

AimingForYoko

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Do any college peeps know why he was suspended or rather what school policy he violated?

Like are we talking pure evil or just marijuana here?
 

ifmanis5

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Do any college peeps know why he was suspended or rather what school policy he violated?

Like are we talking pure evil or just marijuana here?
All I can find is a violation of team policy. And it wasn't just him, two other teammates as well.

LINK: https://texags.com/s/25989/robert-williams-suspended-for-three-games-gilder-and-hogg-for-one
COLLEGE STATION – The Aggie men's basketball program announced the suspensions of three student-athletes for violations of Texas A&M policy. Admon Gilder, D.J. Hogg and Robert Williams will sit out tonight's exhibition game against Tarleton State.

Hogg and Gilder will return for the season-opening contest against West Virginia on Nov. 10 while Williams is slated to return to the court Nov. 20 against Oklahoma State.

“Unfortunately, young people make mistakes. We will handle this matter internally and move on as a program,” Texas A&M head coach Billy Kennedy said.
 

AimingForYoko

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All I can find is a violation of team policy. And it wasn't just him, two other teammates as well.
*prays* please don't be evil, please don't be evil *prays harder*

I've never wanted someone to be a pothead more.

Edit: the college basketball subreddit says Hogg (the dude he was suspended with) is a known pothead so until I hear differently I'm gonna assume it was pot.
 
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Reverend

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Do any college peeps know why he was suspended or rather what school policy he violated?

Like are we talking pure evil or just marijuana here?
People thought Aaron Hernandez's reported character issues were marijuana.

For awhile.
 

ponch73

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jmm57

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There is a Facebook live video with Rozier calling Danny when Philly was on the clock and getting the Williams pick spoiled. I'm not sure how to link FB live, but it's pretty funny

Edit
JCizzle actually got it in the other thread
 

JakeRae

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This was a great pick. It was the best player available and it filled a need. The team is now insulated against the market for quality bigs like Baynes and O'Quinn potentially running away from them. Williams skillset should be able to play limited minutes immediately with a focus on rebounding and shot blocking. Really, outside of the hopes of something dramatic, this is about a best case scenario for this draft. (Note: I didn't love Williams as a lottery pick this year but he's great value where we took him.)
 

Jed Zeppelin

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As much as it's good to hear such positive analysis from various outside sources, what has me the most excited is reading the response of Stevens/Ainge and the suggestions that they were actually trying to trade up to get this player before getting him anyway.
 

Pxer

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I like it. He could be a total zero on offense, but a beast on D for 15 a game over the next few years, right?
 

Imbricus

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What's also satisfying is knowing Golden State must have been ready to pounce on him with the next pick, thinking they had their Jordan Bell of the 2018 draft. Ha!
 

Eddie Jurak

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This might be another Jaylen Brown type situation where Willams was limited by his college situation: playing as a perimeter forward doesn't suit him. On the broadcast, they noted that he rolled to the rim only 9 times all season last year.
 

Imbricus

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Williams is listed at 6’9 with a 7’4 wingspan, but hasn’t been officially measured. Capela measured at 6’11 (in shoes) with a 7’4.5 wingspan ... Capela’s height advantage should not be dismissed
Stepien says this, but it appears that Williams was measured 6' 8.5" in bare feet, so he's more accurately 6' 9.5" or 6' 10" in shoes. In fact, his height is listed variously around the internet as 6' 9" and 6' 10".
 

benhogan

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This was a great pick. It was the best player available and it filled a need. The team is now insulated against the market for quality bigs like Baynes and O'Quinn potentially running away from them. Williams skillset should be able to play limited minutes immediately with a focus on rebounding and shot blocking. Really, outside of the hopes of something dramatic, this is about a best case scenario for this draft. (Note: I didn't love Williams as a lottery pick this year but he's great value where we took him.)
Depth at the 5 was a need. A young, mobile, defensive minded 5 was a huge get. Put him on an accelerated Capella track, who took a year to get added to the Rockets rotation (12 GP his rookie season). Williams finds his way to somewhere on #11-15 spot on the roster this season.

I have to believe Danny will also sign a veteran big (most likely Baynes). Go with Baynes/Theis/Williams at the 5. Opportunistically use Horford at the 5:
(a)when they go small
(b)at the end of games when they go situational

Probably squashes the Dwight Howard rumors earlier in the day.
 

Ed Hillel

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There is a Facebook live video with Rozier calling Danny when Philly was on the clock and getting the Williams pick spoiled. I'm not sure how to link FB live, but it's pretty funny

Edit
JCizzle actually got it in the other thread
This seems pretty bold/stupid of Rozier to do, right? Like Belichick would probably devour his soul and bench him for a while. Danny probably only answered because he thought he might have to allay Terry’s fears or some rumor he’s been traded.
 
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HomeRunBaker

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https://www.theringer.com/2018/3/22/17149150/robert-williams-texas-am-sweet-16

The ringer's take on why he may be a better NBA pro than what he showed in college.
This gives some real good examples of the challenges that Williams faced in college. Offensively challenged bigs can really get lost in the college game versus zones and a 30-second shot clock. The Aggies also had a pure 5 in Tyler Davis, who is really good at establishing position deep in the post while creating mismatches, who shared those interior touches with Williams.

Someone asked last night how WCS has been doing in Sacramento as they don't follow the team. I mentioned how he's done ok considering his role expanding outside of his strengths (I recall him being posted up on 3 consecutive trips one game last year) so the fit is a bit awkward. Williams has a great opportunity playing for an established team which can best utilize his strengths while shielding him from his weaknesses.

I don't feel we re-sign Baynes and disagree now that we "need" to sign a veteran replacement right now. I think summer league will show if/how Williams plays in more space to where he can earn those 15 rotation minutes we're looking to fill. We can always evaluate our rotation at the deadline as we don't need to begin the year with our playoff roster. It's all about the postseason for us now.
 

JCizzle

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This seems pretty bold/stupid of Rozier to do, right? Like Belichick would probably devour his soul and bench him for a while. Danny probably only answered because he thought he might have to allay Terry’s fears or some rumor he’s been traded.
I dunno, I doubt Danny cares very much. He seems to love Rozier and it's probably a stunt he would have pulled if they had this stuff back in the day.
 

Niastri

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What exactly does 27% defensive rebounding percentage mean? Is that all rebounds when he is on the floor? In his zone?

How impressive is that stat? The same question applies to his 10% block ratio.

Sorry for the noobie question.
 

Red Averages

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The 2nd unit defensive team of Smart, Rozier, Morris, Semi, Williams is going to be amazing. Their offense might require a few beers to watch though... barring a Smart/Williams PnR with Rozier/Morris as shooting options.
 

Devizier

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What exactly does 27% defensive rebounding percentage mean? Is that all rebounds when he is on the floor? In his zone?

How impressive is that stat? The same question applies to his 10% block ratio.

Sorry for the noobie question.
All rebounds available (when the other team shoots) when he’s on the floor. It’s a strong number. The best are in the low thirties for that stat (think Drummond or Ben Wallace). Obviously subject to variance due to defensive system, etc. Its a good first pass estimate.
 

HomeRunBaker

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All rebounds available (when the other team shoots) when he’s on the floor. It’s a strong number. The best are in the low thirties for that stat (think Drummond or Ben Wallace). Obviously subject to variance due to defensive system, etc. Its a good first pass estimate.
It is so much more impressive when you realize how many of those missed shots were up for grabs against his teammate and 6-10 C Tyler Davis who led the SEC in rebounding.

We can't really worry about breaking down his numbers as it's ultimately going to come down to how quickly or if Williams "gets it"!and is able to learn NBA level defensive schemes.
 
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Niastri

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All rebounds available (when the other team shoots) when he’s on the floor. It’s a strong number. The best are in the low thirties for that stat (think Drummond or Ben Wallace). Obviously subject to variance due to defensive system, etc. Its a good first pass estimate.
Thank you. I am no basketball SABR guy.

And the block % is all 2 point shots the other team attempts while he's on the floor? Or is it all shots? If it's 2pt shots, how do they count blocks of 3pt attempts? Is 10% merely good, or is it great?
 

DJnVa

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I don't feel we re-sign Baynes and disagree now that we "need" to sign a veteran replacement right now.
There was a tweet last night with a Celtics source saying they want Baynes and Baynes has said he wants to be back.

We shall see.
 

Eddie Jurak

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The 2nd unit defensive team of Smart, Rozier, Morris, Semi, Williams is going to be amazing. Their offense might require a few beers to watch though... barring a Smart/Williams PnR with Rozier/Morris as shooting options.
I don't think we'll see a lot of that kind of unit on the floor. Our leading minutes guys will be Irving, Hayward, Horford, Brown, and Tatum (not in that order) and I don't think Stevens will end up playing them all other and then running out a lineup with one-shot creator (Morris), one other reliable scoring option (Rozier), and 3 offensive zeros.

Actually, if Williams is anywhere near ready for consistent bench minutes, Morris probably gets traded as there won't be much run for him.
 

DJnVa

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This seems pretty bold/stupid of Rozier to do, right? Like Belichick would probably devour his soul and bench him for a while. Danny probably only answered because he thought he might have to allay Terry’s fears or some rumor he’s been traded.
Love that Ainge calls him Bob Williams.
 

finnVT

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I'm not as crazy about this pick as some, but I think one thing it does really nicely is fill a need with a low cap hit. Assuming they can re-sign Baynes, the you end up with a Baynes/Theis/Williams + Horford/Morris rotation among your bigs, which is probably enough. At a ~1.7m salary, and not that much more for the next few years, that's a very effective way of filling ~15min/g of the bench than a vet like Monroe.
 

Reverend

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I'm not as crazy about this pick as some, but I think one thing it does really nicely is fill a need with a low cap hit. Assuming they can re-sign Baynes, the you end up with a Baynes/Theis/Williams + Horford/Morris rotation among your bigs, which is probably enough. At a ~1.7m salary, and not that much more for the next few years, that's a very effective way of filling ~15min/g of the bench than a vet like Monroe.
Out of curiosity, why do you not love the pick, then? Because you just described what I thought when I saw it and thought, man, Ainge does it again...

Like, it's not the player himself alone but what it means for the long term salary structure. The potential here is just brilliant.