Boston Celtics: 5 reasons Robert Williams was a good pick

2. Not a better player at No. 27

There’s no denying this draft was one of the best that we’ve seen in years. There were players going in the second round that would be going mid-to-late first round in any other draft. Despite this being a deep draft, there is no question Williams was the best player available at 27th overall.

Williams was projected to be a top-10 pick at one point. By time it came to draft night, many had pegged him to go in the lottery or worst case, just outside of the lottery. Picks went by and we still never heard his name. At one point he just sort of blended in with the rest of the group until the Celtics called his name at 27.

That late in the draft, there aren’t going to be many times a team can grab a top-10 player. Some notable names that went later than him include: Evans, Gary Trent Jr., Khyri Thomas, Mitchell Robinson and Keita Bates-Diop. There were plenty of other big names that went later on, but no one as big as him.

It was a risk because we don’t know much on his medical history. If there is nothing to worry about, then I think the Celtics made one of the best pick in recent years.

He’s not a huge risk because at 27, you’re not really losing much if he never pans out. If this had been a lottery pick, then that conversation might be different, but that’s not the case here.