The Boston Celtics have been busy to start the offseason. After trading away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, the team made three selections in the 2025 NBA Draft, as they added a pair of guards (Hugo Gonzalez and Max Shulga) and center Amari Williams to their team.
While Gonzalez was the Celtics’ first-round selection, the addition of Williams was one that drew a lot of attention from fans, largely because of the team’s need for a center now that Porzingis seems set to join the Atlanta Hawks.
Williams seems excited to join Boston, and while he’s on a two-way contract, he could have a chance to contribute sooner than expected depending on how the team’s center depth chart shakes out. Shortly after getting picked by the C’s, Williams sent a quick two-word message out on social media.
“Beyond blessed!” Williams said in response to a post from the Celtics announcing their selection of the seven-foot big man.
Hailing from the United Kingdom, Williams initially played four seasons for the Drexel Dragons in college before transferring to the Kentucky Wildcats for his final season. Last season, Williams averaged 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 56.1% from the field.
Story continues below advertisement
The upside with Williams is hard to miss. While he isn’t an incredibly gifted scorer, he’s a strong rebounder who also passes the ball very well for a player of his size. If he can continue to develop his defensive skills, he could be a sneaky good selection for the Celtics.
Even with Williams on board, Boston is going to work on finding a way to re-sign Al Horford and Luke Kornet, as the center position is easily their biggest area of need. Bringing them back would ensure that the C’s can properly develop Williams, rather than potentially rushing him into action.
The offseason is only just starting, and the Celtics still have a lot of work to do, even though they have already made a slew of moves. The addition of Williams may not yield immediate rewards, but if he puts in the necessary work, he could become a key piece of Boston’s future.
