2. Grant Williams, 22nd overall pick
The 13th prospect on my board and a personal favorite, Grant Williams has it. That ambiguous, often undefined factor that captivates the viewer. He’s not a great athlete and his physical tools are average, but he’s a damn good basketball player.
Williams won SEC Player of the Year twice in a row at Tennessee. He dominated a competitive conference, leading the charge for the Vols’ experienced frontcourt. His basketball I.Q. is a calling card, as it sets Williams apart from any other 6-foot-7 forward in the 2019 rookie class.
More from Draft
- Philadelphia 76ers Ten Biggest Mistakes of the Last Ten Years
- The Sixers sign four undrafted players after the NBA Draft
- Players the Sixers should target in undrafted free agency
- How to Watch the 2023 NBA Draft as a Sixers Fan
- 2023 NBA Mock Draft: 5 wing prospects 76ers could target
Undersized and limited in terms of explosiveness, Williams has a knack for impactful plays. He sets sturdy screens. He makes advanced reads. He rotates on time, every time defensively. His tough-shot making is an added bonus.
Indicators suggest Williams will become a useful 3-point shooter in the NBA. Not elite, but good enough at the power forward spot. And while he’s not dynamic off the dribble, Williams’ craftiness in the post should translate — even if it’s in a different capacity than we saw at Tennessee.
A timely defender, a ball-mover, and a smart, disciplined prospect, Williams should earn immediate playing time in Boston. He would have earned similar considerations in Philadelphia — an idea his strong Vegas showing only reaffirmed.
Thybulle seems like a more natural fit due to position, but Williams would fit into the Sixers’ jumbo-sized rotation. He’d fill a complementary role, giving Ben Simmons an unselfish pick-and-roll partner, or providing another Tennessee alum to run two-man actions with Tobias Harris and Josh Richardson.