If you’ve ever watched Amari Williams play basketball, you know that his unorthodox style of play is hard to describe.
At 6-foot-11 and 250 pounds, the Nottingham, UK native can do things at his size that not many others can. Sure, sometimes the big man will produce a head-scratching decision, but more often, he makes your jaw drop with an unbelievable play.
Kentucky Wildcats fans spent a good portion of last season watching Williams initiate Mark Pope’s offense from the center position. It’s not that he’s the best ball-handler or smoothest operator; it’s Williams’ relentless motor that separates him from the competition. His will to get to the rim puts constant pressure on opposing defenses.
When Kentucky played Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament, I was fortunate enough to sit next to a scout who worked for a major player ranking service. He was enamored by Williams’ skill set and had confidence he would be picked by an NBA team.
The Boston Celtics pulled the trigger on Williams with the 46th pick in the second round of June’s NBA Draft. Considering he’s heading to what’s usually a title contender, it’s unclear exactly what role Boston is going to expect Williams to play.
On Monday, it was announced that the Celtics were trading a key piece of their frontcourt, potentially opening the door for Williams to play an impactful role next season.
Luke Kornet will be leaving Beantown for San Antonio after the Spurs locked him into a four-year $41 million contract. Kornet tallied 18 minutes per game last year for the Celtics, averaging six points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
Could this move carve a path for Williams?
If nothing else, it sure improved his chances of finding the floor in the short term. The only other bigs on the roster are Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, Xavier Tillman, and Josh Minott.
Not exactly a murderer’s row of competition for playing time.
The Boston Celtics will open up summer league play in Las Vegas on July 11th, and Williams is expected to play.