Author Topic: Amari Williams a celtic this year?  (Read 117840 times)

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Re: Amari Williams a celtic this year?
« Reply #15 on: August 10, 2025, 07:29:45 PM »

Offline Who

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There is a youtube channel called "Stunted Growth" that does videos on guys who didn't fulfill their potential. They had a video on RJ Luis there the other day.

(1) They said RJ was projected as a 1st round pick until that final tourney game.

(2) He went 3-17 FGA in the game. Pitino benched him for bad play and bad body language.

His draft value cratered. Said character concerns was a big reason for why he didn't get drafted. But that this didn't seem to be an issue until that final game seems to be an over-reaction to me.

(3) He could have entered the transfer portal and was rumoured to get offers of around $3mil per season by big programs. Instead he went for the NBA Draft.

Re: Amari Williams a celtic this year?
« Reply #16 on: Today at 12:48:51 AM »

Offline paintitgreen

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I do not understand why Luis would turn down $2-3 million to play another year of college ball to go make less than half that as an undrafted two-way player.

Luis is already an older rookie - 2 days younger than Josh Minott who was drafted three years ago and a year and a half older than Jordan Walsh. So it?s not as though he decided to get into the league younger to try to cash in on a deal. At his age it would seem his best bet would be to take the college cash and seek to dominate for a year to show himself as NBA ready while trying to dispel any character concerns that may have developed.

If that last game was the only indication of character problems, I agree it would be an overreaction for him to go undrafted. And a handful of teams might do that. But I have a hard time believing 30 teams who all put a lot of resources into scouting and evaluation would decide not to draft a first round talent because of poor attitude during one bad big game. Maybe the character concerns are deeper than one game. Or maybe NBA scouts think that horrible performance in the Arkansas game (I remember watching that game - he was awful) reflected an inability on RJ?s part to succeed against opponents with NBA level athleticism.

I wish him luck on making himself a career but IF that money was on the table in the NCAA, I think he will regret turning it down.
Go Celtics.

Re: Amari Williams a celtic this year?
« Reply #17 on: Today at 09:17:13 AM »

Online DefenseWinsChamps

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I do not understand why Luis would turn down $2-3 million to play another year of college ball to go make less than half that as an undrafted two-way player.

Luis is already an older rookie - 2 days younger than Josh Minott who was drafted three years ago and a year and a half older than Jordan Walsh. So it?s not as though he decided to get into the league younger to try to cash in on a deal. At his age it would seem his best bet would be to take the college cash and seek to dominate for a year to show himself as NBA ready while trying to dispel any character concerns that may have developed.

If that last game was the only indication of character problems, I agree it would be an overreaction for him to go undrafted. And a handful of teams might do that. But I have a hard time believing 30 teams who all put a lot of resources into scouting and evaluation would decide not to draft a first round talent because of poor attitude during one bad big game. Maybe the character concerns are deeper than one game. Or maybe NBA scouts think that horrible performance in the Arkansas game (I remember watching that game - he was awful) reflected an inability on RJ?s part to succeed against opponents with NBA level athleticism.

I wish him luck on making himself a career but IF that money was on the table in the NCAA, I think he will regret turning it down.

Did he return? What's going on with this?

Re: Amari Williams a celtic this year?
« Reply #18 on: Today at 09:36:32 AM »

Offline Celtics2021

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I do not understand why Luis would turn down $2-3 million to play another year of college ball to go make less than half that as an undrafted two-way player.

Luis is already an older rookie - 2 days younger than Josh Minott who was drafted three years ago and a year and a half older than Jordan Walsh. So it?s not as though he decided to get into the league younger to try to cash in on a deal. At his age it would seem his best bet would be to take the college cash and seek to dominate for a year to show himself as NBA ready while trying to dispel any character concerns that may have developed.

If that last game was the only indication of character problems, I agree it would be an overreaction for him to go undrafted. And a handful of teams might do that. But I have a hard time believing 30 teams who all put a lot of resources into scouting and evaluation would decide not to draft a first round talent because of poor attitude during one bad big game. Maybe the character concerns are deeper than one game. Or maybe NBA scouts think that horrible performance in the Arkansas game (I remember watching that game - he was awful) reflected an inability on RJ?s part to succeed against opponents with NBA level athleticism.

I wish him luck on making himself a career but IF that money was on the table in the NCAA, I think he will regret turning it down.

Did he return? What's going on with this?

Luis was one of the top transfers available this spring, and reportedly has offers in excess of $2 million to play for schools next year.  After the combine and workout process, he certainly knew he was going no higher than the second round, and that a 2-way was likely, so he left a lot of money on the table for next year.

That said, presumably he feels that playing professionally will help him develop his game more than another season in college.  His future in the NBA is as a defensive role player, and in college he would be asked to be a high usage offensive player.  If his long term goal is a successful NBA career, getting into an NBA organization a year early might be best, even if he sacrifices short-term dollars.

Re: Amari Williams a celtic this year?
« Reply #19 on: Today at 09:50:20 AM »

Offline Celtics4ever

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He is betting on himself to win a roster spot.   I like guys who are that confident in themselves.