Ziaire Williams 2021 NBA Draft prospect profile

The 2021 NBA draft will take place Thursday, July 29 with the Detroit Pistons holding the No. 1 pick. The Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic round out the top five selections.

We take a look at some of the prospects available in this draft, gauge their strengths, weaknesses, NBA comparisons and best landing spot within the player’s projected draft range. Here’s a breakdown for Stanford forward Ziaire Williams.

Strengths

Williams is a solid defender who uses his length to disrupt passing lanes well. He can fill gaps well and has strong recognition on that side of the floor. Williams also has strong ball-handling skills, but his playmaking needs work. His development curve is great at 19 years old.

Weaknesses

The forward was great from the free-throw line, but couldn’t translate that percentage to be a strong perimeter shooter. He was inconsistent, having strong showings in one game but completely falling off the map in the next. Williams will also have to make better decisions as a playmaker. He had six games with four or more turnovers in college.

Player Comparison

Cam Reddish is a great comparison for Williams, even though the Duke forward may have been a little stronger coming out of school. Reddish’s shooting ability was the big question mark coming into the league, which is the same concern for Williams. Both players put up substandard college numbers while not being primary options offensively.

Best Landing Spot

Williams is projected to go just after the lottery, meaning the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks are in play. The Thunder have the best development track record of the bunch and are entering a rebuild, giving Williams the opportunity to compete for minutes right away while honing his skills. The Los Angeles Lakers are another team to watch here if they fell Williams can develop into a decent player, despite his lack of a three-point shot to help the team immediately.