The Celtics made a selection Thursday night to increase the depth of their frontcourt after dropping down the draft board.
Amari Williams, a big man from Kentucky, was chosen by Boston with the 46th overall choice in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Williams, who spent four seasons at Drexel before moving to Kentucky last summer, was born and raised in England. He is regarded as a very good passer for his size and is a powerful, big-bodied 7-footer with a 7-foot-6 wingspan. Prior to moving to the SEC, Williams was a three-time CAA Defensive Player of the Year and an excellent shot-blocker and rebounder in college, averaging 1.6 and 7.4 per game, respectively.
However, both as a shooter and a defender, scouting reports criticize him for his unsteady play on the perimeter. Williams made just 30 3-point attempts in college (with a 30% success rate) and four in his one season at UK, demonstrating that he was a good finisher inside but not a dangerous outside shooter. He never made more than 66% of his foul throws throughout any of his collegiate seasons, which further betrays his poor free-throw shooting.
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During the previous season, Williams started all 36 games for the Wildcats and averaged 10.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 2.3 turnovers per game. In Kentucky’s two NCAA tournament victories over Troy and Illinois, he pulled down 23 rebounds and blocked four shots.
Hugo Gonzalez, a 19-year-old Spanish wing selected by Boston in the first round (28th overall), is a much younger potential than Williams, who is 23. Although it is unlikely that second-round picks will make a significant contribution to the NBA, Williams is more likely to play as a two-way player in the G League, however there may be chances for him to play in the Celtics’ revamped frontcourt.
Brad Stevens, the team’s president of basketball operations, stated on Wednesday that the organization expects to re-sign backups Al Horford and Luke Kornet, who are both upcoming free agents, and starting center Kristaps Porzingis, who the Celtics sold to Atlanta earlier in the week. Neither Xavier Tillman nor Neemias Queta were a regular rotation player this season, making them the only Boston big men currently under contract for 2025–2026.
Yahoo Sports Quetaas Williams was named the top NBA player by Kevin O. Connor. On O’Connor’s big board, he was ranked 53rd among the prospects. He was ranked 57th by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and 75th in this class by The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie.
The Orlando Magic, who also gave up the 57th pick and 2026 and 2027 second-round picks to move up to No. 32 and choose French wing Noah Penda, traded Williams to Boston for the trade that Boston utilized to acquire him. Max Shulga, a Ukrainian guard with a good shooting ability, was selected by the Celtics at No. 57.
