Should Joe consider playing Amari Williams?

[Alleyoopster]

I noticed in a few games this year that opposing teams are isolating their taller, good shooting forwards against our smaller Celtic forwards. Sometimes it feels they are taking uncontested layups from 10 feet away because of the height differences.

When this happens, might it be a good idea for Joe to consider inserting a taller, defensive minded Amari into lineup? I realize he's not ready for prime time because of his lack of rebounding awareness. Anyone agree or disagree with trying out this strategy?

[ozgod]

I noticed in a few games this year that opposing teams are isolating their taller, good shooting forwards against our smaller Celtic forwards. Sometimes it feels they are taking uncontested layups from 10 feet away because of the height differences.

When this happens, might it be a good idea for Joe to consider inserting a taller, defensive minded Amari into lineup? I realize he's not ready for prime time because of his lack of rebounding awareness. Anyone agree or disagree with trying out this strategy?

You're assuming he will be able to fulfill the task you expect of him at an NBA level. Personally, I think he needs a year in the G-league at least, before he's ready to be put in an NBA game and be expected to contribute. I could be wrong, but I've not seen anything that would suggest otherwise.

[slamtheking]

I noticed in a few games this year that opposing teams are isolating their taller, good shooting forwards against our smaller Celtic forwards. Sometimes it feels they are taking uncontested layups from 10 feet away because of the height differences.

When this happens, might it be a good idea for Joe to consider inserting a taller, defensive minded Amari into lineup? I realize he's not ready for prime time because of his lack of rebounding awareness. Anyone agree or disagree with trying out this strategy?

You're assuming he will be able to fulfill the task you expect of him at an NBA level. Personally, I think he needs a year in the G-league at least, before he's ready to be put in an NBA game and be expected to contribute. I could be wrong, but I've not seen anything that would suggest otherwise.

agreed.

Williams is "2 years away from being 2 years away".  He's shown nothing in the few minutes he's gotten that he'd contribute anything meaningful to the team this season. 

[Vermont Green]

Walsh looked not ready for the NBA as recently as summer league.  I think the best you can hope for is a similar trajectory for Amari.  Amari is not close right now but I like the potential. He has NBA talent I believe, similar to Walsh. But has to figure it out. 

[Celtics2021]

I noticed in a few games this year that opposing teams are isolating their taller, good shooting forwards against our smaller Celtic forwards. Sometimes it feels they are taking uncontested layups from 10 feet away because of the height differences.

When this happens, might it be a good idea for Joe to consider inserting a taller, defensive minded Amari into lineup? I realize he's not ready for prime time because of his lack of rebounding awareness. Anyone agree or disagree with trying out this strategy?

You're assuming he will be able to fulfill the task you expect of him at an NBA level. Personally, I think he needs a year in the G-league at least, before he's ready to be put in an NBA game and be expected to contribute. I could be wrong, but I've not seen anything that would suggest otherwise.

agreed.

Williams is "2 years away from being 2 years away".  He's shown nothing in the few minutes he's gotten that he'd contribute anything meaningful to the team this season.

I disagree that he is two years away from being two years away.  But he is not ready, and the Celtics did not expect him to be, as they signed him to a 2-way.

[slamtheking]

I noticed in a few games this year that opposing teams are isolating their taller, good shooting forwards against our smaller Celtic forwards. Sometimes it feels they are taking uncontested layups from 10 feet away because of the height differences.

When this happens, might it be a good idea for Joe to consider inserting a taller, defensive minded Amari into lineup? I realize he's not ready for prime time because of his lack of rebounding awareness. Anyone agree or disagree with trying out this strategy?

You're assuming he will be able to fulfill the task you expect of him at an NBA level. Personally, I think he needs a year in the G-league at least, before he's ready to be put in an NBA game and be expected to contribute. I could be wrong, but I've not seen anything that would suggest otherwise.

agreed.

Williams is "2 years away from being 2 years away".  He's shown nothing in the few minutes he's gotten that he'd contribute anything meaningful to the team this season.

I disagree that he is two years away from being two years away.  But he is not ready, and the Celtics did not expect him to be, as they signed him to a 2-way.

I hope you're right but I just don't see it. 

[Roy H.]

I don't know.  He's a long way away.

Should have taken Kalkbrenner or Raynaud.

[boscel33]

I don't know.  He's a long way away.

Should have taken Kalkbrenner or Raynaud.

Should have taken Kyle Filipowski!  I don't mind the Williams pick, it was in the second.  Kyle and Hugo would have been some good young blood on this team.

[Roy H.]

I don't know.  He's a long way away.

Should have taken Kalkbrenner or Raynaud.

Should have taken Kyle Filipowski!  I don't mind the Williams pick, it was in the second.  Kyle and Hugo would have been some good young blood on this team.

Interestingly, Filipowski was taken 32nd overall in 2024.  We had #30 that year, and #32 in 2025, when both Kalkbrenner and Raynaud were on the board.

Stats this season:

Filipowski: 9.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 0.5 blocks
Kalkbrenner: 8.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks
Raynaud: 10.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.5 blocks

[slamtheking]

I don't know.  He's a long way away.

Should have taken Kalkbrenner or Raynaud.

Should have taken Kyle Filipowski!  I don't mind the Williams pick, it was in the second.  Kyle and Hugo would have been some good young blood on this team.

Interestingly, Filipowski was taken 32nd overall in 2024.  We had #30 that year, and #32 in 2025, when both Kalkbrenner and Raynaud were on the board.

Stats this season:

Filipowski: 9.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 0.5 blocks
Kalkbrenner: 8.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks
Raynaud: 10.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.5 blocks

well if we're going to play the woulda/coulda/shoulda draft let's look at 2016
#3 - JB - arguably would go #1 in a redraft
#16 - Yabu --> Should have grabbed Siakam who went 27
#23 - Zizic --> Should have grabbed Dejounte Murray who went 29
#31 - Devonte Davis who was traded but should have taken and kept Zubac who went at 32
#35 - Rade Zagorac who never played for us but should have taken Malcolm Brogdon who went at 36
#45 - Demetrius Jackson - Should have taken Georges Niang who went at 50
#51 - Ben Bentil -- of all the picks we could have traded or stashed someone, this was the one.
#58 - Abdel Nader actually played for us
If we grabbed Siakam, Murray, Zubac and Brogdon to go the JB, that's a playoff team that would be making deep runs nevermind adding Tatum the next draft.

[Celtics4ever]

well if we're going to play the woulda/coulda/shoulda draft let's look at 2016
#3 - JB - arguably would go #1 in a redraft
#16 - Yabu --> Should have grabbed Siakam who went 27
#23 - Zizic --> Should have grabbed Dejounte Murray who went 29
#31 - Devonte Davis who was traded but should have taken and kept Zubac who went at 32
#35 - Rade Zagorac who never played for us but should have taken Malcolm Brogdon who went at 36
#45 - Demetrius Jackson - Should have taken Georges Niang who went at 50
#51 - Ben Bentil -- of all the picks we could have traded or stashed someone, this was the one.
#58 - Abdel Nader actually played for us

I liked Danny because he played for us during the Bird years.   I do not think that his son was a great scout.

The 2019 draft was a big miss taking Grant Williams  at 22 over Nic Claxton, Jordan Poole, Keldon Johnson or Daniel Gafford all who were picked later and have head better careers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_NBA_draft

[Roy H.]

I don't know.  He's a long way away.

Should have taken Kalkbrenner or Raynaud.

Should have taken Kyle Filipowski!  I don't mind the Williams pick, it was in the second.  Kyle and Hugo would have been some good young blood on this team.

Interestingly, Filipowski was taken 32nd overall in 2024.  We had #30 that year, and #32 in 2025, when both Kalkbrenner and Raynaud were on the board.

Stats this season:

Filipowski: 9.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 0.5 blocks
Kalkbrenner: 8.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks
Raynaud: 10.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.5 blocks

well if we're going to play the woulda/coulda/shoulda draft let's look at 2016
#3 - JB - arguably would go #1 in a redraft
#16 - Yabu --> Should have grabbed Siakam who went 27
#23 - Zizic --> Should have grabbed Dejounte Murray who went 29
#31 - Devonte Davis who was traded but should have taken and kept Zubac who went at 32
#35 - Rade Zagorac who never played for us but should have taken Malcolm Brogdon who went at 36
#45 - Demetrius Jackson - Should have taken Georges Niang who went at 50
#51 - Ben Bentil -- of all the picks we could have traded or stashed someone, this was the one.
#58 - Abdel Nader actually played for us
If we grabbed Siakam, Murray, Zubac and Brogdon to go the JB, that's a playoff team that would be making deep runs nevermind adding Tatum the next draft.

Hindsight is always easy.

Fans wanted Filipowski and Kalkbrenner/Raynaud contemporaneously.