PROSPECT SPOTLIGHT: Grant Williams
After what was considered an unimpressive combine performance, most mock drafts project Grant Williams falling somewhere in the late 20s to early 30s. Whether it’s at 24 or 33, he’s someone the Sixers should have very strong interest in — even with an imperfect fit on paper.
At 6-foot-8, Williams is a strong-bodied forward who did most of his damage in the post at Tennessee. That won’t be the case in the NBA, which has led to some concern about how his game will translate. It can be difficult to face a higher competition level and change roles in a drastic way.
Williams has the basketball I.Q. to overcome such challenges. He’s a skilled passer at the four spot, whether it’s locating cutters on the short roll or facilitating out of the post. He has also shown promise as a shooter, which will open up his face-up game at the next level. Becoming a reliable spot-up shooter is an important next step for Williams.
The Sixers tend to overwhelm opponents with size and versatility. Williams has the strength to defend bigger players inside, while his mobility generally allows him to survive switches. His positioning and instincts on defense are elite, typically putting himself in the right spots and deterring shots at the rim. He stays vertical, doesn’t foul and communicates at a high level.
What the experts are saying …
"“It is one thing to possess intelligence and another to weaponize it. That’s where Williams sets himself apart. He was all over the box score at Tennessee, scoring, dishing, rebounding, stealing, and blocking his team to wins over and over again. He has put in the work to make improvements in his game, with his free-throw percentage climbing from 66.7 percent his freshman year up to 81.9 percent on higher volume in his junior year. That number, along with his touch and high-release point, give some scouts confidence he will expand his range and knock down threes consistently in due time.”"
"“Williams won’t command that same degree of attention in the pros from the outset but he’s the type of cerebral player whose playmaking can remain valuable even in a scaled down role. He’s too sharp and reads the floor too well for his passing instincts and talent to be completely mitigated.”"
— Jackson Frank, The Step Back
"At least in this one sense, Grant Williams is similar to Draymond Green, though there’s another. Draymond Green was the owner of the 2012 draft’s most underrated set of skills in his ability to play defense. I’d argue that for the 2019 draft Grant Williams is also probably the owner of the draft’s most underrated skill.Except this skill — Williams’ jump shot — is not quite as easy to pick out. Yet there any number of indicators, taken in conjunction with each other, that suggest the eventual extension of Grant Williams’ jump shot to NBA 3 range, with efficiency, is more likely than not."