The NBA Draft is this week. The Cleveland Cavaliers currently have two late second-round picks (49 and 58) they can use to improve their team. They might use one of those picks on a defensive-first center like Amari Williams.
Who is Amari Williams?
Williams is a 6’10” big from Nottingham, England. He played his first four collegiate seasons at Drexel and his final at Kentucky.
The production Williams showed at Drexel carried over to Kentucky. He averaged 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 blocks, 0.6 steals, and 2.3 turnovers per game in 36 outings with the Wildcats.
Williams is a traditional center. He only took four triples last season and does most of his damage around the rim. Williams shot 56.1% from the field last season and 62.3% from that line.
The defensive upside is what is going to determine whether or not he’s an NBA player. He was named CAA Defensive Player of the Year three straight times. We’ll see if that can translate to the professional game.
Where is Williams expected to go in the draft?
Some draft boards have Williams as one of the last picks in the draft, while others have him going undrafted. The Cavs have brought him in for a workout. He may be someone they target with the 58th selection or as an undrafted free agent.
What do the experts say about Williams?
Maxwell Baumbach of No Ceilings:
He’s an excellent paint deterrent who often forces opponents to settle for tough looks instead of getting to the rim. His awareness allows him to get into the correct positions consistently, and his bounce allows him to turn away opponents at the rim (career 8.7 BLK%). He also owns the glass and limits second chances (career 27.9 DRB%). Pulling him out to the perimeter isn’t much of a solution, though. He has fantastic north-south burst that allows him to be the rare big who can jump passing lanes. His 2.7 STL% over the past two seasons is an uncommon mark for someone with legitimate five-man size. He’s shockingly light on his feet laterally. Williams’s signature skill is going to be locking down the rim in drop coverage, but he’s more than adept at handling his business on the perimeter. This blend of feel, power, and quickness makes the three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year one of the most intriguing sleeper prospects out there.
Ersin Demir of Ersin’s NBA Draft Newsletter:
Williams’ slow feet often lead to opponents putting him in ball screen actions. He’s mostly relying on his drop coverage to keep himself in the paint and respond actively to initiated switches. Against floor-stretching forwards and fives, Williams is likely to get outside, but the Wildcats often relocated with their team defense to keep Williams in the paint. Regardless, in the NBA, it’s imminent that he’ll get beat by three-point shooters off the dribble. However, his presence at the rim and decent footwork offer counters when he’s put in a position to effectively drop his coverage.
Eric Yearian of nbadraft.net:
Williams is one of the more unique center prospects in this class — a physical, pass-first big who thrives as a high-post connector and low-post defender … While he may not fit the mold of a modern floor-spacing five, his vision, feel, and toughness give him a real path to NBA rotation minutes … He projects as a face-up center who can initiate offense in motion sets, anchor a second unit defensively, and add value with his basketball IQ and screening … A late bloomer who didn’t begin playing basketball seriously until sixth grade … If he lands in a scheme that leverages his strengths and hides his shooting limitations, he could stick as a dependable role-playing big.
How could Williams help the Cavs?
Williams is a more intriguing backup big-man option to me than someone like Viktor Lakhin, who fits more into the traditional drop-center mold. There is defensive upside there. Whether or not that translates to the professional game remains to be seen.
The Cavs need someone who could eventually grow into a backup center role. There would be offensive concerns, but they wouldn’t be looking for an offensive hub in this spot. They would need someone who could provide good defense, rebounding, and toughness. This could make him a good fit in Cleveland.