Celtics Executive Offers Scouting Report On Draftee Amari Williams
The Boston Celtics seem to like what they have in draftee Amari Williams.
The Celtics added Williams with the 46th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Thursday night, though the Kentucky product technically was drafted by the Orlando Magic. Williams, though, will come to Boston once the not-yet-finalized second-round trade is official.
Speaking to reporters following the conclusion of the second round, Celtics vice president of basketball operations Mike Zarren offered a scouting report on Williams.
“He’s one of the best passing big men in college for a long time,” Zarren told reporters during a video conference, per NBC Sports Boston. “He’s an elite rebounder. He’s a great guy. He had a wonderful career at Drexel and then stepped it up another level at Kentucky.”
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Williams averaged 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Wildcats during the 2024-25 campaign. He averaged 10.4 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 53% from the floor during his five collegiate seasons.
Zarren fanned over Williams for his size (7-foot, 262 pounds) and length (7-foot-5 wing span).
“He’s got just an enormous, enormous wingspan,” Zarren said. “And as you’ll see on the court, if you haven’t seen already, he’s got incredible vision. Those things are just key abilities in the modern NBA — your big guys have to be able to do all sorts of things. Sometimes we play through big guys at the post, with the guys we have had on our roster and Amari should fit into that pretty well.”
Boston traded back in the second round after the Phoenix Suns jumped them and drafted St. Joseph’s wing Rasheer Fleming. The C’s reportedly planned to draft Fleming 32nd overall. In trading back, however, the Celtics acquired three additional second-round selections. They acquired the rights to Williams and guard Max Shulga (57th overall) as well as second-round picks in 2026 and 2027.