Celtics center Robert Williams, who has been sidelined since December 6 due to a hip injury, has been cleared to return to action, head coach Brad Stevens confirmed today (Twitter link via Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe).
Williams, a first-round pick in 2018, was playing a part-time role for Boston earlier in the season before he went down with the hip ailment, averaging 3.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 1.1 BPG in 19 games (14.2 MPG).
The 22-year-old will play limited minutes for now, as Washburn notes, but he’ll give the C’s another option up front to go along with centers Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter. Boston’s next game is on Saturday night vs. Houston, which may not be an ideal spot for a big man like Williams to see much playing time, but it sounds like he should be active for that contest.
Meanwhile, point guard Kemba Walker is expected to miss Saturday’s game against the Rockets as he continues to deal with a knee injury, Stevens said today (Twitter link via Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston). It will be the fifth straight game Walker has missed since the All-Star break.
However, the All-Star guard will likely ramp up his work over the weekend with an eye toward returning next week, Stevens added. It sounds as if a return on Tuesday vs. Brooklyn or on Wednesday in Cleveland remains in play for Walker.
Awe man Walker’s going to be out..I wanted each team to play at full strength.
Kemba turning into a part time player like Kyrie.
Maybe, but I’m sure Boston is much happier without Kyrie.
Really?!?!?
Your “Really?!?!?” is either sarcastic or you haven’t watched a single Celtics game last year or this year — of course Boston is MUCH happier without Kyrie — he was a MASSIVE cancer to the team and having Walker instead of him has been a massive blessing for the team and the fans.
Not even close. Kaylee was DNP whenever he got so much as a hangnail.
Kemba’s knee seems to be a serious, chronic problem that’s going to be permanent. He’s missing too many games to just think it’s no big deal.
I agree… I hope he can pull through it and get back to full strength but I definitely agree it’s been going on too long now to just keep acting like it’s ‘no big deal’ — definitely seems like there’s something more serious there that he’s trying to just tough out and play through. Hopefully he can for the rest of the season. But if he needs surgery or something hopefully it’s something that can be done in the off-season without him missing much time next year!
I wonder if Charlotte knew something about Kemba’s knee that Ainge just ignored because he desperately needed to replace Kyrie?
Charlotte would have offered a healthy and more appropriate amount, but if he’s not even healthy, Jordan looks good, can offer the max to someone else in theory.
Theis may be just the guy to oppose Houston. Are we going to add perimeter defense to what is required of a modern center?– who has it? I assume Theis can do it, Kanter & Williams not so much.