Ever since Enes Kanter’s return to the Boston Celtics’ rotation, one player’s minutes have suffered above all others: rookie forward Grant Williams.
Following the knee injury that Kanter sustained in the season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, Williams averaged 18.2 minutes per game in six contests, all games that the veteran missed. Yet, the last three games that they’ve both been available has seen Williams average 13.2 minutes per game in two contests and receive a DNP (against the Sacramento Kings).
It was unexpected, perhaps, but the problem has less to do with Kanter and more to do with Williams. Despite being a 6-foot-6 power forward with solid passing ability, Williams doesn’t stretch the floor (he’s 0-14 from three for the season) and has been most productive as a center.
Unfortunately for Williams, Boston has a stable of bigs at their disposal and three — including Kanter — more deserving of minutes because they’re more useful at the center position.
Third-year center Daniel Theis, their starter, combines know-how with the ability to score inside and out as well as protect the rim. Second-year center Robert Williams III is simply an elite shot-blocker who can facilitate as well. Kanter is a skilled low-post scorer that’s one of the few reasons Boston doesn’t have the worst scoring bench in the league.
Looking at Williams’ natural position, potential All-Star Jayson Tatum has played the bulk of his minutes (85%) at power forward while playing a team-high 34.4 minutes per game. While that presents natural issues for giving Williams significant minutes, the other issue is the presence of forward Semi Ojeleye, a player that’s as versatile a defender as Williams and a better scorer too.
Ojeleye has played more than 10 minutes in five games this season and played 21 minutes while Williams recorded his DNP against the Kings. Most importantly, Ojeleye knocked down three 3-pointers against Sacramento.
Boston is shooting 37.0% from three (ranked 7th in the NBA) and knocking down 12.8 threes per game (ranked 12th in the NBA), so their outside shooting isn’t a problem as a whole. However, comparing the usefulness of Williams and Ojeleye, one can see how Celtics head coach Brad Stevens may not give Williams heavy minutes any time soon.
When playmaking forward Gordon Hayward — whose spent 14% of his minutes at power forward — returns, the situation becomes even more murky for the 22nd overall pick.
Boston may very well move Williams to the backend of their rotation for an indefinite period.
It may seem silly to think that Williams’ inability to shoot from deep could keep him from being a bigger rotation piece but he shrinks the floor, making it easier for teams to guard the Celtics inside and force them to be a jump shooting team.
When the rookie is on the floor for Boston, the offense has a rating of 105.8, only besting rookie point guard Carsen Edwards (103.2). For the season, the Celtics have an offensive rating of 112.5 (ranked third in the NBA).
On the flip side, Boston has a defensive rating of 101.9 with Williams on the court, the third-lowest of their team. For comparison, the Celtics have a ranking of 111.5 when Ojeleye is on the court.
That said, Williams’ biggest hope should be that his defense is needed and his 3-point shooting becomes more like what he showed in the preseason — when he shot 41.7% on 3.0 attempts per game — than what he’s shown so far in the regular season.
Moving forward, the amount that Stevens utilizes Williams will be one of the more interesting trends to watch.
*Unless otherwise referenced, stats gathered from Basketball Reference