Boston Celtics Summer League: Evaluate Robert Williams, Semi Ojeleye and What to Expect from the List

Williams' tenure at the Celtics had a difficult start. It has the opportunity to have fun in Las Vegas.

The 20-year-old, selected by Boston in the No. 27 draft at the NBA Draft last June, missed a conference call with reporters and the summer league. the first practice of the team during the week and a half following the repechage. He officially signed his rookie contract on Thursday. The summer league will not only be the opportunity to show athletics and raw ability that have turned it into one of the best talents in this year 's draft. It will also be an opportunity to show the Celtics how it can evolve in a real basketball context.

He projects as a pick-and-roll demon, a smuggler who can drive up to the rim and finish the lanes. at all angles. But the Celtics have said that they would like to use it as more. They like it as a smuggler. They were impressed by his contributions to the transition. Boston will use it as a selection center, no doubt, but beware of other subtle ways that summer league coach Jay Larranaga could deploy his most recent weapon.

The most intriguing players of Summer League are usually beginners who taste for the first time (especially) at the NBA, but Jabari Bird arrives in second position. After shining at the end of last season with his track and field, his defense and his clever two-way game, Bird would have won looks from the Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves in addition to the Celtics. But Bird's restricted free agency status plays in favor of the Celtics – they're very attached to him, they can match any other offer sheet. On a team that desperately needs cheap production, Bird could potentially make the list.

Yabusele, who was drafted by the Celtics in the first round of the 2016 draft, received more and more play time during 2017-18, his rookie season. He is a big coordinated man who hopes Boston can become a stretching threat and a smart smuggler. The Celtics love to use their big men in dribbling games, as screeners and around the perimeter. The summer league can give them the opportunity to help Yabusele to become familiar with some of these aspects.

Remember, Vegas numbers do not matter. No matter who could shoot horribly or wonderfully. The activity, the process is more important. That's what Boston – and everyone – will look for in his guys, especially Yabusele, Williams, Bird, Kadeem Allen and one more …

Some experts thought that Ojeleye, which the Celtics picked No. 37 overall in 2017, would be a rough draft first-round pick. He ended up performing as one, sneaking into the top 30 rookies in the league at the end of the year. He still has a lot of work to do – to know his shot – but he's also one of the strongest players in the team, he uses his physical skills to defend himself and remains a multipositions contributor, able to play in the foreground. Ojeleye keeps the 1s to 4s. But coach Brad Stevens used it to keep the centers in the moments. The Celtics hope to leverage his defensive versatility in Vegas while working on his shot.

Allen had more chances last season than maybe he was expecting – taking on the role of goalkeeper late in season when a series of wounds decimated Boston's guardian rotation. A first-defense guard who runs around screens and hawks, he can handle well enough to direct the show on similar stretches to Marcus Smart. Allen will have a hard time making the team – the Celtics have a busy lineup and not much room for him – but showing an improved shot and higher-level looks on the pick-and-roll would help. Allen, like Bird, is a restricted free agent.