Grading the Boston Celtics’ 2019-20 season by player, part 2: the bench

In our second installment grading the seasons of the 2019-20 Boston Celtics, we focus on the veterans coming off of the bench.

Robert Williams III – center – 1 season experience – $1,937,520

At the start of Time Lord’s 2019-20 season, there was plenty to be excited about. A drop-off in mistakes on defense combined with a nascent passing and away-from-the-basket game suggested the Louisiana native was on the verge of a big leap.

Aug 5, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) follows through on a dunk over Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. at The Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ashley Landis/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Then, his hip betrayed him — or the fact he kept landing on it so damn much, perhaps. After he’d healed with an extended absence, the league shut down due to the pandemic, nearly robbing Rob of his second season.

He showed enough in the Disney restart to convince us that growth was real, even if he didn’t get time to polish it. Given that was hardly his fault, we have to give the big man an A- for what he came up with in a season full of setbacks.