Writer calls Amari Williams sleeping giant in draft
- Thread starter akaukswoosh
- Start date
His biggest issue is shooting touch. If he had any shooting touch at all, he would be in the top 20.
Yeah I don’t know really how giant but I’ve been saying for months people are missing something if they really think AW isn’t decently draftable.
Amari certainly brings a lot to the table defensively. However, it's hard for me to imagine an NBA GM using a draft pick on a 7-footer with no offensive presence. He would be a great passer out of the pick and roll, IF he could knock down a jumper, but he can't.
However, he'll get an NBA contract. He'll either be drafted in the late 2nd round or hook up with a team after the fact. But, I don't see him every being a real contributor.
But what do I know. I thought Booker would only be a "serviceable" shooting guard in the NBA.
However, he'll get an NBA contract. He'll either be drafted in the late 2nd round or hook up with a team after the fact. But, I don't see him every being a real contributor.
But what do I know. I thought Booker would only be a "serviceable" shooting guard in the NBA.
Defensively? He can't guard in a phone booth. Terrible rebounder. It's possible someone wastes a draft pick on him. They have on worse players. But he won't play in the league.
have to agree
his defensive abilities were greatly over rated, as was his rebounding
as big & strong as he was, he should be capable of both
I really like Amari, but to be honest, I don’t think his game translates well to the NBA.
Most big men in the NBA thrive off pick-and-roll actions and finishing plays, but in college, he operated mainly out of the low post. I don't see him as an effective roll man or a strong finisher in those situations. His passing might not be that useful at the next level either, since no NBA team is likely to run their offense through him. He looks physical, but he still seems to struggle with physicality and contact.
From an NBA perspective, there's nothing he truly excels at.
I think he spent too much time in the lower-level leagues, which really limited his development. If he had been coached by Mark Pope for two or three seasons, there’s a good chance he would’ve improved significantly and had a real shot at becoming a first-round pick.
Most big men in the NBA thrive off pick-and-roll actions and finishing plays, but in college, he operated mainly out of the low post. I don't see him as an effective roll man or a strong finisher in those situations. His passing might not be that useful at the next level either, since no NBA team is likely to run their offense through him. He looks physical, but he still seems to struggle with physicality and contact.
From an NBA perspective, there's nothing he truly excels at.
I think he spent too much time in the lower-level leagues, which really limited his development. If he had been coached by Mark Pope for two or three seasons, there’s a good chance he would’ve improved significantly and had a real shot at becoming a first-round pick.
He looked all world defensively playing against inferior competition. He was still a good defender in the SEC, but not nearly as "elite" as he was thought of. SEC is full of elite athletes. Not everyone can make that jump.
Brea started looking a lot stronger on D closer to year end as well.
For a modern NBA big man, unless you're Nikola Jokic, no team is going to let you consistently post up on the low block. You must be able to do at least one of the following, ideally both: finish as a roll man in pick-and-roll situations, or space the floor with reliable outside shooting. Without either, you'll be phased out of the league very quickly.
We already know that Amari hasn’t really developed an outside shot, and at Kentucky, his offensive game was almost entirely based in the low post. He didn't show much as a pick-and-roll finisher, which hurts his NBA projection.
Given his physical profile, you would expect better rebounding and defensive presence. But overall, his rim protection and rebounding are just okay, not great.
So if you're a big who’s only okay at protecting the rim and rebounding, and you don't shoot or finish effectively in pick-and-rolls, your NBA prospect is definitely questionable. I love his passing, but unless he becomes top frontcourt options in a team, no team is going to let him operate from the high post as a playmaker.
There is a reason he hasn't been invited to draft combine
Again, I like Amari very well. I hope him can have a good NBA career
Brea shows Pope's player development ability
From a spot up shooter to a player that has some playmaking ability. His defense also came from bad to ok.
Brea was complete different player before and after the season
He was a pretty darn good point forward/center type. Nice IQ and passing ability. Imagine him coming in on your 2nd unit and hes only costing you like $400k/year.
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He is pushing 7' tall, can pass, and is an elite defensive rebounder. That combination of skills is not common.
I agree. I wish he would make it. I want all the UK guys to make it. He just doesn't have the skillset to be an NBA player. And he's not getting better. He was in college for 5 years. He is what he is. He won't make in the major Euro leagues either. Skills are a premium there.
China? Australia? Brazil? Those are possibilities for him.
Efficient shooting should never be mentioned in the same sentence with Amari.
Surely someone can teach Amari to dunk the ball!?Efficient shooting should never be mentioned in the same sentence with Amari.
Imagine if Golden State takes him in the 2nd. He could be a poor man's Draymond who isnt gonna be around much longer. Obviously his defense isnt on draymonds level, but he has the court vision and passing to kind of be Golden States ideal 5. And again, they'd have him for cheap, 2nd round pick, and he could fill in nicely as they need a big. And say hes never more than a middle of the road big, we'll then he'd be a cheap option for Currys final years and they can splurge on a SG or something. I see that as a potentially great fit.
Do you even watch basketball?
Williams is good defensively, most of the time. He does have defensive lapses, usually when he's down on himself for missing an easy basket. But he can play good defense.
As for rebounding, he is a very good rebounder. Only 3 Wildcats (4 times) over the past 40+ years (maybe 50+) have averaged more rebounds per minute than Williams did last year. Those 3: Oscar, Vanderbilt, Cousins, Oscar (again). So, he rebounded better than Randle, and better than Davis.
He has heart but lacks motor and motivation at times. NBA you get only a couple chances a game and need to be 100% flat out every chance you get.
I'm pulling for him, but I see what they're worried about.
I'm pulling for him, but I see what they're worried about.
Easily, if he has a real post game and could develop even decent shooting form he would be easily late lottery probably.
He rebounds just fine I don’t know who you have been watching.
Amari guarded Flagg straight up at the end of the Duke game and held his own on the baseline. He's got the athletic ability to be a player at the next level. The question has always been his motor, moves, and perimeter offensive skills. Someone might take a guaranteed second round flier on him if their other targets fall off the board.
I’m convinced he will get a shot with someone in the league. There are several teams that he won’t be asked to score. Just set a high pick and make good passes. He can be a cheap role player.
If I’m a GM. I draft Williams all day over a guy like Justin Edwards. That’s me.
They would probably choose Edwards 9 out of 10 times.
I agree with you. AW’s per 40 rebounding numbers compare favorably with Oscar’s.
I always wondered why stamina appeared to be an issue for Williams in college … as he never logged the kind of minutes you would expect from him. See MPG & Per 40 below:
Amari Williams College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
Amari Williams - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more
www.sports-reference.com
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I guess anything sub Oscar is now "can't rebound".
He is almost the perfect nba big. Minus shooting. They’ll get someone to do nothing but perfect his corner 3 form and he will be. 10 year nba vet.
Pj Washington shot like 20% his first year. Tested the water and got feedback and was over 40% the next year. Now he’s a pretty good 3 pt shooting big. No one would have thought that’d happen after his first year. AW will have a shot to make the same improvement. If he does- he will have a really good career in the league.
Pj Washington shot like 20% his first year. Tested the water and got feedback and was over 40% the next year. Now he’s a pretty good 3 pt shooting big. No one would have thought that’d happen after his first year. AW will have a shot to make the same improvement. If he does- he will have a really good career in the league.