Ainge says Williams doesn’t have ‘low motor’

Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge was puzzled by all the talk about how Texas A&M forward Robert Williams didn’t work hard enough to make it in the NBA.

“It’s hard to have a ‘low motor’ and be the defensive player of the year two years in a row in a tough conference,” Ainge said Friday after the news conference to introduce Williams.

Williams was named the Southeastern Conference’s co-defensive player of the year in 2018 after winning the award outright in 2017.

A 6-foot-10, 237-pound native of Oil City, Louisiana, Williams had been considered a lottery pick after his freshman year but he returned to play another season in college. He was projected as an early firstrounder in this year’s draft, but he fell to the Celtics at No. 27 overall.

Williams said his mother believed he needed another year to mature in college. Asked if he regretted not coming out after his freshman year, Williams broke into a wide smile and shook his head to show he wasn’t second-guessing that decision.

“I mean, I’m standing right here,” said Williams, who was assigned the No. 44 that was worn by Ainge during his Celtics playing career. “I feel like I landed in a great place. It’s only up from here.”

Pistons add Lowe, Sweeney to staff

The Detroit Pistons hired assistant coaches Sidney Lowe and Sean Sweeney on Friday to join Dwane Casey’s staff.

Lowe was on Flip Saunders’ staff with the Pistons during the 2005-06 season two decades after playing briefly for the franchise. He was an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards the previous two years.

Sweeney was a Milwaukee Bucks assistant the last four years.

Rose spent the last three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks as their manager of basketball operations. Bakker was an assistant video coordinator on Casey’s staff with the Toronto Raptors the previous two seasons.

L.A. Lakers release veteran Tyler Ennis

The Los Angeles Lakers released veteran guard Tyler Ennis on Thursday night.

Ennis joined the Lakers in a trade in February 2017 and appeared in 76 games for the club, including 22 starts last season. The Canadian point guard averaged 4.1 points and 1.9 assists in 54 games last year.

Ennis also has played for Houston, Milwaukee and Phoenix in his four-year NBA career.

The Lakers had a team option on Ennis for next season at roughly $1.65 million, but they released him instead.