NBA Notebook: Trevion Williams brings unique passing talent to Celtics

LAS VEGAS -- Trevion Williams turns heads. In the Celtics' win over the Grizzlies on Thursday, he did so by grabbing a defensive rebound, dribbling up the floor at 6-9, 265 pounds and dumping the ball near the opposite basket to Justin Jackson, who flipped another pass around Grizzlies defenders to Aubrey Dawkins for the layup.

"He makes his teammates better by the way he passes," Sam Hauser said. 

While the broadcast team working the Summer League game lost it on the air, Williams' teammates got the shock out of the way on day one. JD Davison could only use the word crazy three times to describe Williams' passing ability. Williams fired off multiple no-look passes to three-point shooters on the first day of practice. Cutters found the ball in their hands before they could realize what happened. The cross-court pass, his favorite, moved the ball from one end of the court to the other. 

Mfiondu Kabengele, his fellow big man and matchup in the team's scrimmages, couldn't wait to finally play on the same side as Williams when the summer schedule began. He remembered Williams killing his team, finding Juhann Begarin on back cuts in scrimmages. A rookie from Purdue who the Celtics signed undrafted earlier this month, Williams brought a unique skill as a facilitator from the center position, his case to the make the team in a developmental role toward eventually filling backup minutes behind Robert Williams III and Al Horford. 

"He was making some passes and we knew that he would be a good asset for us, playing through him," Celtics guard Matt Ryan told Boston Sports Journal after Boston's first game against Miami. "Whether it's in the extended post or he's catching the ball at the top of the key. We knew that we could move off of him ... you guys probably saw a couple of passes of his, whether it was a skip pass to the other side or hitting somebody along the baseline on a back door cut, he's got that capability to make those passes. I think we'll try to play through him a little bit more."

The stats never told the full story for Williams, who only averaged 20 minutes per game for the Boilermakers last year after Matt Painter moved him to the backup role behind 7-4 star Zach Edey. Williams won Sixth Man of the Year, serving 6.0 assists per 40 minutes, but his biggest fear came to fruition on draft night when his name didn't get called as he watched among family and friends. The Celtics quickly picked him up for Summer League, a relief he said at practice earlier this week. Boston was impressed by his vision and willingness to pass. 

Williams, 21, already faced far greater adversity, whether it be his parents separating, his uncle dying in a shooting when he was 15, or moving from Chicago to Detroit in the aftermath to attend Henry Ford Academy. He fractured his foot there, leading to a recovery process where his weight rose to over 300 pounds. Purdue still recruited him, alongside other Big 10 schools, for his bruising post play and already-evident vision, but he'd need to lose significant weight to get on the floor as a freshman. Painter mandated it. 

"It's easier said than done, but he really put a lot of time in that offseason when he got to campus as far as being dedicated and trying to get that weight off," Purdue assistant coach Brandon Brantley told BSJ. "He put in extra work on weekends, and it's a hard thing to do when a young kid like that comes on campus and he makes that commitment. It's like ok, 'This kids got a chance,' and him just doing that and early on, he didn't play a whole lot, but he stayed ready and when his name was called really took a big step and helped our team that season ... during the weekends, most of those guys go home, they relax and he was getting in the gym and would do extra sprints and everything on Saturdays and Sundays, improved his diet and so it was a big reason why he was able to shed so much weight." 

Playing alongside future Celtics guard Carsen Edwards, Williams broke out with 10 points and four rebounds in nine minutes against Notre Dame in December after losing approximately 50 pounds, getting down to 270. Purdue had lost Evan Boudreaux to injury and Williams became a rotation mainstay, improving to 11.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore before his career 15.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG and 2.3 APG in 2021, earning the coaches' vote for First Team-All Big 10.

Taking a back seat to Edey proved more admirable in an era where college players can freely transfer. Williams attributed both that and his pass-first mentality to his unselfish personality. He wants to put other players in a position to succeed, and his dream role in the league would be setting up a team full of passers. Williams needs to improve as a defender, Celtics coach Ben Sullivan noted, and his lack of a shot contributed to his backup role in college. The team sounds intent on building on his playmaking, wanting to empower him in these games. 

"I know we haven't been playing together that long, but I've tried to get to know them, hopefully they'll get to know me as a player, just the way that I play on the court," Williams told BSJ. "Coach has stressed it a lot, he brings it up in film all the time, to utilize me. I want to be that guy who puts other guys in positions to be successful. When that works, everybody eats ... it's not something you'd expect from a big, so I do think I'm different in that aspect. I do enjoy that, just catching other teams off-guard. A lot of teams don't expect it, but it's something I've worked on, I've done in college and I've tried to perfect it as much as possible."

Williams got to work with French forward and 2021 Celtics second-round pick Begarin and formed a cutting and passing partnership that flowed into the Celtics' first game against the Heat. Both played in a backup role behind Hauser and Kabengele, allowing Williams to initiate some offense for the second unit and produce two assists, help Begarin generate 10 free throw attempts, converting nine and getting off the ball himself to catch lobs from Davison. He faked a dribble handoff action to swing a pass to Ryan, who earned three free throws on the feed. 

Sullivan tasked Kabengele and Williams with playing some drop, switching other times and everything in between to get a feel for their defensive games. The veteran Kabengele, who played for the Clippers and Cavaliers since the 2019 draft, spending last season in the G-League, scored more consistently and provided pick-and-roll defense that pleased Boston's coaching staff in the season-opening loss. His explosive performances against Milwaukee and Golden State, combining 35 points, 24 rebounds and eight assists, alongside four blocks, will be difficult to ignore, especially where Kabengele nearly went crashing into Ime Udoka and Mike Zarren chasing a loose ball into the backcourt. Brad Stevens and Udoka both noted the team's need for a backup big man since Daniel Theis departed in the Malcolm Brogdon trade. Kabengele appears ready to fill that need now. The Celtics currently have three empty active roster spots. 

Williams, if kept around, would need seasoning in Maine, possibly on a two-way deal. It could be a worthwhile investment. Boston also has a two-way slot open after signing Davison, the No. 53 overall pick in this year's draft, to the first of the pair of contracts that allow young prospects to split time between the NBA and G-League without counting against the salary cap. 

"(Trevion is) one of the best passing bigs I've seen," Kabengele told BSJ at practice. "I knew him a little bit in college, but he was only a sixth man and was still averaging three, four assists per game, only playing 20 minutes per game. So his passing ability, especially from the mid-post, and the way our offense is set up, it gives the bigs an opportunity to make plays, some flashing, pick-and-rolls, hand-off actions, so I think he's going to have a lot of success here for sure." 

Brantley understood the feeling Williams' Celtics teammates got upon seeing the big man's passing for the first time. He went to watch the big man dribble and initiate offense during Williams' senior year at a tournament in Grand Rapids. Some practice passes, once he joined Purdue, had the coach asking himself if he actually saw that. Others left him shaking his head. Brantley regularly hosted Williams for film sessions as his positional coach, and while they laughed and talked life in some of them, he had to get tough with the young big man occasionally when he tried to get too fancy or chase home-run plays. Purdue also didn't want him ignoring his own offense, given Williams' ability to post-up, score and draw double teams from the low post. That poise to handle pressure became one of the reasons Brantley believed in Williams' ability to make the leap to the next level, along with his physicality and size. 

Williams cooked eggs for his college teammates on Sundays and sang through high school, a music lover, who became more vocal on the court as his time in college progressed. His shouts echoed through the small Cox Pavilion gym at UNLV during Boston's two games there, bellowing at Jordan Bone to let him know he's by himself in coverage. After developing familiarity with his teammates through three games, he hit his stride against the Grizzlies with 11 points, 11 rebounds and three assists on 5-for-6 shooting, all in under 20 minutes. 

When Brantley saw him impacting the game in that many areas, he knew Purdue would win the game. The Celtics did too, improving to 3-1 before Williams receives one more chance to prove himself to Boston and the rest of the league on Saturday at 8 p.m. EST against the Nets. 

"He's an unselfish kid," Brantley said. "He really loves to pass, so his thing is sometimes he can be a little bit of a magician. He does have the ability to make difficult passes, but once he learns to keep it simple, he's going to be even better."

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Atlanta: First-round pick A.J. Griffin didn't play in Summer League due to foot pain that emerged during his post-draft workouts. Jalen Johnson, who the Hawks selected No. 20 overall last summer, also missed the Vegas showcase due to a non-surgical procedure. It left the team's roster of young depth sparse save for second-round guards Tyrese Martin and Sharife Cooper, who shot 47.5% and 30%, respectively. GM Landry Fields discussed John Collins and De'Andre Hunter's futures in Vegas, while Nate McMillan hit on Trae Young's evolving role next to Dejounte Murray, asserting that Young began the necessary process of playing off-ball more last year. 

Boston: A breakout performance by two-way guard Matt Ryan (10-for-19 3PT) ended with a game-winner and ankle injury in the second game of Summer League. He'll inevitably be in the conversation for the three final Celtics roster spots, along with a two-way slot. JD Davison, who will fill the other two-way spot, exploded for 28 points, 10 assists and three steals on 9-for-14 shooting, leading the Summer League in assists through four games. Sam Hauser's (shoulder) summer ended early in Boston's second game after a 6-for-21 start. 

Mfiondu Kabengele showed out as a potential depth big man option, but Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka both predicted the Celtics will sign a big man in Daniel Theis' place after the Malcolm Brogdon trade. Brogdon accepted a bench role in his introductory press conference, wanting to add to what the Celtics have already built, while fellow point guard Marcus Smart said he loved the addition. Danilo Gallinari will play some small ball five to fill some of the center minutes, while Grant Williams told Boston Sports Journal in Las Vegas he and the Celtics haven't engaged in contract extension negotiations yet this summer. Stevens said Boston will have that discussion eventually. Elsewhere, Zach Lowe reported that the Celtics have had no substantive discussions with the Nets on a Kevin Durant trade.

Brooklyn: All remains quiet on the Kevin Durant front with the Deandre Ayton offer sheet match by the Suns pulling him from any potential negotiations until January. Brian Windhorst reported Brooklyn hasn't received trade offers that they've liked, while suitors haven't felt pressured to increase their price. This, along with a report that Kyrie Irving intends to play for Brooklyn, could lead the team to run it back into training camp, whether that works effectively or not. Durant's unknown motive for asking out makes it hard to assess how viable that would be, whether he demanded a trade in defense of Irving, to escape him, or for an unrelated reason. Meanwhile, former Net Goran Dragic gave an interview to a Slovenian publication saying it was hard to play alongside Durant and Irving, due to an emphasis on individual performances. Brooklyn looks great on paper, but internal issues like these continue to make it hard to imagine anything working out here. 

Chicago: The bad news on Lonzo Ball's recovery from January meniscus surgery continues, with Bulls GM Arturas Karnisovas joining the team's NBATV Summer League telecast to say Ball's progressing, but not at the speed they'd like. Ball initially hoped to return in 6-8 weeks, in time for Chicago's playoff run, but had his recovery stalled by a bone bruise before the team officially shut him down in April. Early in the offseason, he still wasn't on his feet months after the procedure. Coby White's presence and the addition of Goran Dragic help the Bulls sustain in the meantime if he's unable to take the court by opening night, and the team's slow play makes sense. Without Ball, they aren't going to reach the upper echelon of the East and as he progresses through a long-term deal they have little flexibility to move on from him. 

Cleveland: The Cavaliers and Jazz have engaged in sign-and-trade negotiations for Collin Sexton in the event that the Jazz choose to build around Donovan Mitchell, according to Jake Fischer. Sexton remains the most significant free agent by far after Deandre Ayton signed an offer sheet that landed him back in Phoenix. Utah's desire to move Mike Conley for the young guard doesn't sound all that compelling, even with a partial guarantee of roughly $14-million in the final year of his deal in 2024. The Cavs will need to pay Caris LeVert by the time that happens, making it unlikely they'd want significant salary back in return for Sexton. On the floor at Summer League, Cleveland appears to have added an impactful depth wing in rookie Ochai Agbaji, who's averaging 15.0 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.3 APG and 1.3 SPG on 37.5% 3PT. 

Denver: Extended new forward Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on a two-year, $30-million deal through 2025 (player option) that only seems to further point toward him starting in place of Will Barton at the two next to Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic next season. It's an enticing collective that should probably be among the small handful of legitimate championship favorites if all goes right. Little has in recent years though, requiring heavy lifting from Jokic that'll ideally be lightened by new additions Caldwell Pope, Bruce Brown, Ish Smith and rookies Christian Braun and Peyton Watson, averaging 11.8 PPG on 30.4% shooting and 9.5 PPG on 34.8% shooting, respectively. 

Detroit: Jaden Ivey only played briefly for the Pistons in Summer League before his ankle injury, totaling roughly 38 minutes, but showing enough across two games by averaging 15.5 PPG and 4.0 APG while shooting 50% from the field and from three. Fellow rookie Jalen Duren averaged 11.3 PPG playing alongside Isaiah Stewart, while two-way guard Buddy Boeheim shot 35.3% from deep. Isaiah Livers shot 38.5% from three on 13 tries and Killian Hayes scored seven points in his brief appearance. It's a young collective the Pistons will continue to lean on with the cap space the team seemingly cleared with visions of Deandre Ayton or Miles Bridges fading into acquiring Alec Burks, Kemba Walker and Nerlens Noel along with Knicks picks. It's a competitive group that still faces an uphill battle to reach the playoffs. 

"(Ivey's) OK," Dwane Casey said on NBATV. "Just a good turned ankle and he bounced back like a trooper. He wanted to play, but the medical staff held him out.”

Golden State: The Warriors boasted perhaps the most impressive Summer League roster, but sputtered against the Celtics and finished 1-3, among the five worst teams at the showcase. Draymond Green began the week in Las Vegas criticizing second-year forward Jonathan Kuminga's debut, calling the performance bad and noting he looked unengaged. Kuminga bounced back with 57 points over the next two games, but swung between highs and lows while Boston, led by Justin Jackson, largely had its way with Golden State. Kuminga averaged 19.3 PPG on 40.6% shooting through four games, with a 20% mark from deep and more turnovers than assists. James Wiseman, playing his first organized basketball since meniscus surgery knocked him out for his sophomore campaign, averaged 10.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG and 2.0 BPG on 54.5% shooting, his jumper looking rough and interior game rising to dominant levels and falling below the competition at times. Only Moses Moody, who averaged 27.5 PPG, rose above the competition and took a seat after two games. 

Houston: Second-year Rockets guard Josh Christopher left Summer League early with an injured hip after some encouraging returns, averaging 19.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.7 SPG and 1.7 BPG despite shooting 39.6% from the field. Rookies Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason played well, combining nearly evenly for 31.8 PPG, while TyTy Washington Jr. averaged 3.8 APG and only 1.0 TOV while grabbing 2.0 SPG. Daishen Nix, who helped lead the Rockets' G-League affiliate to a championship, averaged 13.3 PPG on 46.2% shooting and hit 50% of his threes. Smith's impact expanded as the schedule progressed and this should be a fun group to watch play around Jalen Green next year.

Indiana: The Pacers finally signed Deandre Ayton to their long-rumored four-year, $133-million offer sheet after fully clearing the necessary cap space by waiving Duane Washington Jr. and the three Celtics received from the Malcolm Brogdon deal. The Suns matched the offer and retained Ayton, setting up an awkward final year of Myles Turner's contract and losing Indiana a productive young guard in Washington. It was a moderate-risk, high-upside reward for a budding young team that didn't pay off. At Summer League, Bennedict Mathurin has dominated, averaging 19.3 PPG on 48.8% shooting. Chris Duarte scored 16 points in his lone appearance. Terry Taylor and Isaiah Jackson have scored and rebound well inside, while rookie Andrew Nembhard averaged 5.0 APG. 

Aaron Nesmith joined the team early this week after the Celtics trade became official, telling CLNS Media he was completely caught off guard by the move, but excited for the opportunity. He shot 32.1% through his first two games in Summer League. 

Lakers: The Russell Westbrook saga hit a new impasse as long-time agent Thad Foucher parted ways with the guard over what he described to ESPN as irreconcilable differences regarding Westbrook's future. In Foucher's presentation, he advised Westbrook to remain with the Lakers while the guard desired an exit from the team he struggled with in his first season. The news signifies that all hasn't been reconciled in LA, despite optimistic comments from new head coach Darvin Ham regarding Westbrook's role next season. As the possibility of a Kyrie Irving trade looms, the urgency for action could become greater with the announcement of Westbrook's intentions, but the team's reported unwillingness to shed future draft picks to move off of Westbrook paints a more concerning possibility. Add in that this team is staring down LeBron James' exit next offseason when he can become a free agent. Foucher indicated the next team Westbrook lands may move on.

"My belief is that this type of transaction only serves to diminish Russell's value," Foucher said. "His best option is to stay with the Lakers, embrace the starting role and support that Darvin Ham publicly offered."

Milwaukee: After an MCL sprain knocked Khris Middleton out of the NBA Playoffs and crushed the Bucks' chances as a championship repeat, the guard underwent surgery this offseason to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. ESPN reported he'll return sometime near the start of next season, a move that could set the 30-year-old up to be at his freshest rather than gutting through multiple ailments during the postseason run. They'll have a chance to run it back with the team's core intact, extending Pat Connaughton on a three-year, $28.5-million extension on top of his mid-level deal for this year. While Middleton recovers from his surgery, new addition Joe Ingles is also healing from ACL surgery later into his career. Ingles and GM Jon Horst agreed on a December or January timeframe for his return. At full health, this is again the east favorite.

New Orleans: Lost second-round pick E.J. Liddell to a torn ACL in one of the most devastating moments of this year's Summer League. The No. 41 overall pick in the draft had yet to sign a contract with the Pelicans and the team already has 15 active contracts. The Las Vegas showcase also began with an ankle injury for first-round pick Dyson Daniels, who played only eight minutes and scored one point before sitting for the rest of the schedule. Trey Murphy III, the team's second-year sharpshooter, averaged 26.5 PPG in two appearances on 50% shooting and caught some hype as a potential breakout player for the 2022-23 season after a strong finish to his rookie campaign. 

New York: The Knicks are currently the top suitor in a potential Donovan Mitchell trade if the Jazz decide to move on from their long-time star. New York ominously punted on multiple first-round picks in this year's NBA Draft, setting itself up with the cap space to sign Jalen Brunson and now 11 future first-round picks to get involved in the Mitchell sweepstakes, which Utah reportedly opened, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. Tony Jones, who covers Utah for The Athletic, reported that the Knicks declined a demand for six first-round picks, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin and Quentin Grimes for the star. 

While it's encouraging to hear New York may be able to add Mitchell without giving up starters like R.J. Barrett or Julius Randle, the prospect of unloading potentially record-setting draft compensation reasonably gave the team pause. There'll inevitably be haggling over which picks the Knicks would give up, since they own future Detroit, Washington and Milwaukee first-rounders as well as their own. 

Oklahoma City: A wrist fracture for rookie Ousmane Dieng halted excitement over an otherwise encouraging Summer League for a large group of Thunder rookies and second-year players after Sam Presti started cashing in on years of assembled first-round picks. Dieng is expected back in for training camp, while Tre Mann also looks prepared to miss Oklahoma City's finale with an ankle sprain. No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren finished his three-game slate averaging 12.0 PPG on 46.4% FG and 42.9% 3PT, grabbing 7.7 RPG with 2.3 SPG and 2.0 BPG. Dieng shot 45%, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl averaged nearly a double-double, Aaron Wiggins played well, while Jaylin Williams flashed his charge-taking ability. It's a talented, young, fun roster with Holmgren looking ready to rise above as a star who can lead.

Orlando: Paolo Banchero finished Summer League after only two games, complaining of soreness after his second that inevitably always leads to precautionary shutdowns. Banchero dominated in the half court, transition and even flashed defensive instincts that stood among his biggest concerns entering the draft. He averaged 20 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 6.0 APG and grabbed 2.5 SPG on 40.7% shooting (50% 3PT). Second-round pick Caleb Houstan averaged 8.5 PPG on 32.5% shooting, as the team struggled in Banchero's absence, but played well enough to earn a four-year, $8.2-million contract.

Philadelphia: The 76ers stand in the middle of two intriguing proceedings, the Ben Simmons arbitration case over roughly $20-million in unpaid salary through his holdout/mental health leave before the team traded him to Brooklyn in February. Zach Lowe reported on his podcast it's a case with major stakes for the balance of power between players and teams, and one the rest of the league is closely monitoring. In a more recent development, the team's signing of P.J. Tucker could become the latest offseason addition to receive tampering scrutiny, according to Marc Stein. The Knicks' Brunson signing could also be investigated, with the NBA cracking down on tampering in recent seasons, particularly on deals that come together early in the free agent moratorium period. The Bulls, Heat and Bucks have lost second-round picks over the past two years for the Lonzo Ball, Kyle Lowry signings and the attempted sign-and-trade of Bogdan Bogdanovic. 

Phoenix: The Suns matched the Pacers' four-year, $133-million offer sheet to Deandre Ayton, retaining their young cornerstone center after nearly one year where the sides seemed poised for a breakup. Phoenix, for whatever gamble it took, did initially see Ayton's restricted free agency market stall before Indiana freed up max contract space with the Malcolm Brogdon trade to sign him. For whatever the team lost in good will with Ayton, it only gained not paying him a fifth year they could've offered in extension or free agent negotiations. His contract thrust the Suns over the luxury tax line by $17 million, the biggest reason it seemed Ayton would be gone, but with the Kevin Durant trade demand turning into a limited market, Phoenix could kick any potential negotiations to the trade deadline, and compete for now with its core of Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Ayton, who reached the 2021 NBA Finals and led the league in wins one year ago. It would've been startling to see the Suns lose one of their young core players with this window open. Did they alienate him enough to have the same effect? 

San Antonio: Agreed to a four-year, $80-million extension with forward Keldon Johnson, who's now arguably the headliner of a group of young players the Spurs will move forward with after the team traded Dejounte Murray and Derrick White over the past year. First-round rookies Blake Wesley (19 PPG, 34.2% FG), Malaki Brenham (13.5 PPG, 39.6% FG) and Jeremy Sochan (DNP, COVID protocol) all showed long learning curves ahead for the youngest team in the NBA, with second-year guard Joshua Primo not far ahead. It's still unclear as the offseason progresses whether or not Gregg Popovich will coach the team next season with a long rebuild looming here. 

Toronto: The Lowe Post noted Bojan Bogdanovic could land with the Raptors if the Jazz begin deconstructing their roster after a potential Donovan Mitchell trade. More on that in the next section, but Utah has Patrick Beverly, Jared Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley and other valuable players on its roster after the Rudy Gobert trade that could bring back even more assets to bolster the team's rebuild. 

Utah: Trade season continues in the NBA with Donovan Mitchell's availability, according to Adrian Wojnarowski, now lingering over the summer and set to stay that way with the Jazz in no rush to move their star. Mitchell's playing on a four-year, $134.9-million deal with a player option in the summer of 2025. That gives Danny Ainge the ability to command a massive haul for the guard, much like the Kevin Durant asking price reached unprecedented levels. 

Unlike with Durant, the Jazz don't appear to be in a position to compete in the short term after trading Rudy Gobert, and struggles the team will inevitably face with a first-time head coach in Will Hardy and suspect supporting cast around Mitchell may not help his value. If there's enough urgency from teams like the Knicks and Heat, now may be the time to make the move and progress into a full-scale tank for top prospects in what's projected to be an enticing 2023 draft class.