Boston Celtics: Extending Robert Williams should be C’s top priority

This offseason, the Boston Celtics have important decisions to make with players on their roster.

The most important decision they have to make involves Robert Williams as he is arguably their best young player after Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Williams enters this offseason with one year left on his contract, which begs the question of whether or not the Cs extend him.

I think Boston should look to re-up with him this summer, and it should be their top priority.

Robert Williams took a leap this season that most people didn’t see coming.

The big man played 52 games this season, the most he has played in a season in his career, and averaged eight points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game.

His efficiency was excellent as he shot 72 percent from the floor. Williams improved his game in every area, and you started to see his true potential.

The third-year pro was impressive as he finished ninth in the NBA in player efficiency rating. Also, he showed flashes when given the starting center spot towards the end of the season.

The Boston Celtics went 10-3 in the games Williams started, and I think it’s safe to say that he has earned that spot moving forward. Check out his impact on winning here:

Some impressive stats with Robert Williams include the fact that he has more blocks than missed shots in his career and has a career block percentage of 9.2 percent.

To put this into perspective, since blocks were first recorded in 1973-74, Shawn Bradley has the highest career block percentage at 7.83 percent.

Overall, I think the team’s top priority has to be extending Robert Williams.

I think he has the potential to be a future All-Star, and he can be the starting center for the Boston Celtics for years to come.

The game that highlights this was game one of the first-round this year against the Brooklyn Nets. Williams finished the outing with 11 points, nine rebounds, and nine blocks.

Williams’ block total was the most by a Celtic in a playoff game since 1983.

I would like to see the Boston Celtics offer $12-15 million to Robert Williams over 3-4 years for his extension.

This deal could wind up being a bargain by the end of it because I suspect Williams will play at a high level.

I compare this situation to Jaylen Brown as the Celtics extended him early on a team-friendly deal right before his ascension to elite play. The deal is now considered a bargain for the franchise because Brown’s play is exceeding the contract.

Ultimately, I think the Celtics can’t afford to let Robert Williams enter the final year of his contract because he is going to play at a high level.

The team needs to lock him up for the future now and Brad Stevens has to put this at the top of his priority list this offseason.