2019 NBA Draft: 5 prospects who can help a team right now
By James Grieco
2. Grant Williams, PF, Tennessee
Height: 6’7” | Weight: 240 | Age: 20
Draft range: 18-32
Grant Williams may not be as heralded as his college accomplishments have warranted, but he is going to have an impact on a lot of winning in the NBA. Despite being the two-time SEC Player of the Year and just 20 years old (he was a junior last season at Tennessee), Williams has a volatile draft range, with little agreement on when he will actually be drafted.
Whoever does take him will be getting what many have called the smartest player in the draft. Again, it is a lack of size and athleticism that hinders Williams’ stock. At the draft combine, Williams measured in at 6’7.5”, with an 8’7” standing reach and a 6’9.75” wingspan — again, similar to Zion’s measurements.
More importantly, Williams registered just 5.4 percent body fat, which many scouts had been concerned about given his hefty weight. Like Zion, Williams simply has a body built for the post. Due to his innate strength and basketball acumen, playing power forward should not prove difficult for Williams, which makes his lack of stroke less critical.
Simply put, this man has almost every available tool in his toolbox despite not being a great athlete. Look at the vast array of things he can do on both ends of the court.
Players don’t average 18.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game as a power forward without knowing the game of basketball inside and out. Even better? He averaged those stats playing within himself — his usage rate was just 26.4 percent even though he was one of the best players in the country. Those stats are on par with R.J. Barrett’s, who posted a usage rate over 32 percent.
The main on-court factor people doubt about Williams is his 3-point shot (a career 29.1 percent in college). However, he has shown himself to be such an excellent free throw shooter (81.9 percent on 7 attempts a game last season), that it is hard to doubt his shot not eventually nudging into average percentages. His jump shot is too smooth for it not to.
Working through Rui Hachimura's scouting video and can't help but notice how impressive Grant Williams was defensively against the Zags. Taking charges, guarding the perimeter, and protecting the rim impressively despite his 6'9.75 wingspan. Tough with great instincts + timing. pic.twitter.com/TRVTBTRku3
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) June 7, 2019
When a draft expert takes time out of scouting a lottery pick to highlight a different guy, you know he’s special. Expect Williams to turn into a Draymond Green-lite kind of glue guy.