Grant Williams vs Draymond Green

[KG Living Legend]

 Looking inside the number some really encouraging signs about Grant Williams coming out versus Draymond Green.

 And we all know they have a very similar physical profile almost the same height shoes off green is 2 or 3 in longer with the wingspan Grant Williams is probably a little bit stronger more muscle mass.

 Grant Williams averaged 1.5 blocks for his college career 1.9 blocks was his best season good not great but good.

 his junior year Grant averaged almost 19 points per game 7 1/2 rebounds 3.2 assist 1.5 blocks  per game.

Draymond Green is Junior average 12.6 points per game 8.4 rebounds 1 block per game. but what I was shocked to see is that Draymond only average point eight blocks for his college career compared to 1.5 blocks per game for Grant Williams.

 We all know what a fantastic NBA defender Draymond Green ended up being and they share very similar traits positional defenders using strength and length and intelligence to their advantage.

 I strongly feel we found the power forward of the future for the Boston Celtics his name is Grant Williams I expect him to be playing Major minutes by the end of the season.


 

[Sophomore]

I sure hope so.

But Grant's 8'6" standing reach is awfully short for a PF. For comparison, Jaylen is 8'9"; Romeo is 8'7". A prototype PF like Thad Young is 8'11.5". If he's guarding Young giving up six inches... he's going to have to be awfully crafty.

I haven't really studied standing reach, but on a first approximation the three inches he's giving up to Draymond seem like a big deal. It's a challenge for Draymond to be 2.5 inches under someone like Young; what if Grant is giving up 5.5?

EDIT - I got that wrong. Grant is listed with standing reach of 8'8.5" https://stats.nba.com/draft/combine-anthro/#!?sort=STANDING_REACH&dir=1
That's almost identical to Dray's 8'9". https://stats.nba.com/draft/combine-anthro/#!?sort=STANDING_REACH&dir=1&SeasonYear=2012-13

Oops.

[Donoghus]

I doubt he's the future power forward of the Boston Celtics, however, I can definitely see him developing into the type of role player that spends a decade or more in this league as a valuable off the bench guy. 

[Tr1boy]

Grant Williams can excel as a stretch 4 or small ball 5

As long as he has help near the basket/shot blocker presence

Ideally someone like KG, Ibaka. But Poirier, Rob Williams could suffice

[nickagneta]

Draymond's wingspan is over 3 inches longer than Grant's.

Draymond's standing reach is 1.5" longer than Grant's(NBA.com has Grant's standing reach at 8' 8.5" not the 8' 6" some are claiming here.)

Draymond's no step vertical and max vertical are 2" higher than Grant's.

Grant was oh so slightly faster in agility and 3/4 court speed times but those numbers are essentially the same.

Grant might move around as quick as Draymond and have as high a BBIQ as Draymond, but the physical limitations of Williams, to me, shows he won't ever have the defensive effect that Green has. The decent size differences in reach and vertical make a major difference, IMO

[Smartacus]

One thing that I find is the biggest difference between the 2 is their temperament. Williams seems to be a genuinely nice, reflective, affable guy while Draymond is a mean dude and acts more like a throwback 90's player.

I see KG in Draymond's demeanor and I definitely think that contributes to his all world defensive awareness and tenacity.

Williams seems more like Chris Bosh. By all accounts he excels at all kinds of skills and interests outside of basketball yet he still finds a ways to channel that side of his personality into being a productive player. It's ok to have outside interests as long you also apply that same process to your game and I really believe that he does that based on how unique his game seems to be.

I'm hopeful that despite his physical limitations if Draymond is KG like, Williams is more like Duncan. Not mean or nasty but a killer on the court that rattles other players by being unshakable himself. 

[KG Living Legend]

 Grant cold hand a similar defensive style to Smart as well. Really uses his body well. Contests up into your body, throwing you off balance.

 Just hard to move this dude backwards. Center of gravity is off the charts good. And we have guys like Robert Williams, Pourier, and Tacko of length is the issue for different matchups.

 Green is a better passer, but Grant is something special as well.

[18isGREATERthan72]

Grant's measurables aren't quite as good as Draymond's, specifically the length... However Draymond could be looked at as one of the best defensive players ever (obviously he's not number one, but he's one of those guys you could mention in that sort of discussion)  Is it such a stretch to think that Grant could be an above average defender at the 4/5?  Something that isn't mentioned so much is Grant has shown incredible savvy in the time he was on the floor during SL (I believe he led SL in +/-, correct?)  He honestly reminds me of a big version of Smart... He might not have the perfect physical attributes, but he appears to be mentally aware at most times from what I've seen.  I think defense is more about wits than physical attributes.

[footey]

Funny, with Jaylen Brown playing some 5 for Pops in FIBA, I was starting to see him drawing a better comparison to Draymond, in terms of measurables and athleticism.  Not the same level as passer, however.

[liam]

Grant's measurables aren't quite as good as Draymond's, specifically the length... However Draymond could be looked at as one of the best defensive players ever (obviously he's not number one, but he's one of those guys you could mention in that sort of discussion)  Is it such a stretch to think that Grant could be an above average defender at the 4/5?  Something that isn't mentioned so much is Grant has shown incredible savvy in the time he was on the floor during SL (I believe he led SL in +/-, correct?)  He honestly reminds me of a big version of Smart... He might not have the perfect physical attributes, but he appears to be mentally aware at most times from what I've seen.  I think defense is more about wits than physical attributes.

I agree with the big version of Smart comparison but I think that Grant is a bit more level headed. I loved the way Grant got under Grayson Allen's skin in Summer League.

[ETNCeltics]

Where I think Grant will eventually excel is as a stretch 4 offensively. He will - eventually - have a very good outside shot. He'll be a $$ pick and roll player. I don't think he'll ever be an elite defender because he's just not tall enough to guard great big men, but I do think he can be adequate.

He's someone who's always improving. At UT, he started out as a below average FT shooter, and improved every year. He also started to develop his outside shot, but he was basically the only inside presence we had, so most of his college career was spent on the block. He's going to have to play a totally different style, but we saw glimpses of it in college and this past summer.

[Walker Wiggle]

The chances of Grant being as good as Draymond are extremely slim, for no other reason than the fact that Draymond is one of the best two-way players of his generation.

The one thing I would absolutely expect Grant to do better over the course of his career is shoot the 3. Draymond has that weird hitch, and at times he's been a complete liability out there. Based on what I've seen so far, I'd be shocked if Grant never turns into a reliable 3-point shooter, and mildly surprised if he doesn't become one in his rookie year.

PJ Tucker is the best comparison for this kid. And if you've just drafted the next PJ Tucker at #22, that's a major steal.

[Wretch]

I think Williams will end up being a very poor man's Al Horford. I think he'll end up setting high screens and his passing out of the high post will open up opportunities for his teammates. Assuming he can hit for something close to league average from 3 and play smart D on the perimeter he will have a long career.

[Sophomore]

The chances of Grant being as good as Draymond are extremely slim, for no other reason than the fact that Draymond is one of the best two-way players of his generation.

The one thing I would absolutely expect Grant to do better over the course of his career is shoot the 3. Draymond has that weird hitch, and at times he's been a complete liability out there. Based on what I've seen so far, I'd be shocked if Grant never turns into a reliable 3-point shooter, and mildly surprised if he doesn't become one in his rookie year.

PJ Tucker is the best comparison for this kid. And if you've just drafted the next PJ Tucker at #22, that's a major steal.

TP.

[Csfan1984]

More like Ryan Gomes than Draymond Green.