BOSTON -- Perhaps the strangest moment of the introductory conference call between the Boston Celtics’ No. 22 pick in the draft Grant Williams and the Boston media came right at the end.

Williams, answering a final question about the young Celtics roster being assembled, mentioned fellow rookies Romeo Langford (No. 14) and Carsen Edwards (No. 33).

“I’m excited to be able to be a part of this rookie class,” Williams concluded. "To lead to the future, along with the veterans that are already there in Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Gordon Hayward and all.”

Veterans Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown? On the Celtics roster being assembled, that’s actually true -- entering their third and fourth years on the team respectively, Tatum and Brown will be the second- and third-longest tenured Celtics, unless Terry Rozier is retained in restricted free agency. Other players have been in the league longer, but to a player like Williams -- just 20 years old, even though he was a junior this past season at Tennessee -- Tatum and Brown really are veterans.

That’s how thorough Boston’s reset has been. Assuming reports are true and both Al Horford and Aron Baynes are on their way out, the Celtics front-court rotation will include both Grant and Robert Williams, along with whomever the Celtics acquire in free agency.

Grant Williams, who is somehow nearly a year younger than Robert, said he’s ready to be a part of the rebuild.

“If you think about Boston over the years, they’ve always had youth, and they’ve grown,” Williams said. “You look at Paul Pierce was growing with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in their primes. You look at dating back to when Kevin McHale and Larry Bird were youthful and playing with the most intensity possible. It’s something that I’m blessed to be a part of, and I’m glad that Boston wants to have me be a part of in the future -- be able to add to guys who are intense, you know how Marcus Smart is, as tough as he plays, and the intensity he brings to the court every single night, as well as Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, being able to initiate that culture of whether it’s working hard, but also being a tough-minded team who is versatile, can guard multiple positions but also attack you on the offensive end with no hesitation.”

The Celtics have plenty of reason to be excited as well. Williams is a powerfully built big man who defends with great versatility. Offensively, he has soft touch and a jumper that promises to space to the 3-point line eventually. He can post up as well, and he’s one of the best passers in the class at any position.

“I kind of look at as a guy with a point guard’s mind,” Brad Stevens said. “You can run offense through him at the elbows and on the block, at the top of the key. He thinks the game. He’s a tough, tough guy. And he’s a versatile player who can shoot the ball. He can shoot it from three -- (Tennessee) didn’t need him to do that, but his shot looks good, and that will be a pretty easy transition for him, and again, very intelligent. We’re looking forward to having him. We think he translates well. You couldn’t be more impressed with the kid when you sit down with him.”

Williams’ personality came through even in a brief conference call -- one of the more uncomfortable settings for a press conference, with long pauses between questions and a ton of background noise. Even so, Williams’ enthusiasm for his new home was evident.

“Honestly, I was drafted by the best franchise possible,” Williams said. “It’s the most historic franchise in the league, it’s a franchise that my grandfather talks about every single day, because it’s his favorite team. I grew up watching Boston, and I was a fan the year they won the championship. My brother was a Laker fan in contrast, so we always competed in that. When I heard my name drafted to Boston, I just kind of sighed in relief because I know it’s a great location, it’s a great team, and it’s a lot of great people around. Danny Ainge is a fantastic basketball mind -- same with Brad Stevens the head coach. He’s a guy who knows the ins and outs of basketball, the X’s and O’s, and I couldn’t be more excited to play for the Celtics.”

The Celtics team will look a lot different, but Williams sounded familiar with Boston’s system and the various actions Stevens likes to run, noting in particular how another versatile big -- who might be on his way out -- fit perfectly into the schemes, and how Williams might be able to mimic him.

“I look at a guy like Al Horford for the team last year, of how he could bring the ball up on the break at one period in time and next thing you know, run the court and be spaced out on the wing, or be posted the ball up and initiating the offense with a split action," Williams said." I love the versatility that Boston plays with, the free motion on the offensive end, and defensive schemes, being able to switch and give guys like Jayson Tatum -- who is a prolific scorer in the league -- and Jaylen Brown and the talented guys already on the team the ability to focus on the offensive end and me be able to be tough and guard some of the best players and make an impact in whatever way needed."