Boston Celtics: 3 Cs that could be dealt before preseason ends

Boston Celtics player #2 who could be traded before season: Grant Williams

Grant Williams could be a casualty of a good ol’ fashioned roster crunch before the 2021-22 season starts, and the preseason could be his last chance for the 2019 first-rounder to prove he belongs.

Though he took a step forward in 2020-21, Williams’ second unit minutes didn’t keep the pace the starters would set. As much improvement as he showed–particularly with his long-range shooting–the second unit suffered as a collective.

In that regard, Williams took a step back from his rookie season. That could be because he had less minutes as a small-ball 5.

In dealing Daniel Theis, Danny Ainge got rid of his best center and brought in two non-factors in Luke Kornet and Moritz Wagner. Wagner didn’t even make it until the end of the season after the trade deadline before being moved again, though.

For the most part, Williams struggled to end the year, though, and couldn’t justify big minutes in the postseason.

If he can’t stand out with newcomers Al Horford and Juan Hernangomez gunning for minutes at his natural position (power forward) and Robert Williams, Enes Kanter, and Bruno Fernando all potentially ahead of him on the depth chart at center, a deal for a better fit isn’t that hard to imagine.