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Boston Celtics: 2 likeliest solutions to fill the void left by Robert Williams’ injury

By Sam LaFrance

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 18: Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics reacts after going down with an injury during the first half of a game in the play-in tournament against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden on May 18, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 18: Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics reacts after going down with an injury during the first half of a game in the play-in tournament against the Washington Wizards at TD Garden on May 18, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III is expected to miss training camp this fall and part of the beginning of the 2022-23 NBA season. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday that Timelord will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee later in the week. He is expected to need four to six weeks to recover from the surgery.

Woj added that the procedure will keep Williams minimally out of the Celtics training camp and preseason. Williams is expected to return t the lineup early in the regular season.

Tuesday’s news leaves the Boston Celtics with some decisions to make. The team is now left with the task of replacing Williams, at least temporarily. The likely solution will be the C’s giving Luke Kornet more minutes off of the bench. He was already expected to eat some time with Al Horford likely sitting out back-to-backs this season, so in this case he’d just be getting more consistent run.

Last season, Kornet made 12 appearances for the Celtics. He only averaged about seven minutes in each game, so it isn’t much of a measuring stick for what to expect this season. However, Kornet did give Boston some good minutes during the 2020-21 season, when the team was stretched much more thin.

There is also the option of looking at external options to fill the void. Boston took the first step in doing so, when they waived forward Bruno Caboclo Tuesday afternoon, according the the Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Some veteran names that have been mentioned are Dwight Howard and LaMarcus Aldridge. Woj namedropped the two vets on SportsCenter.


He added that Boston has shown “a little interest” in Aldridge this summer. Neither of the names mentioned would be expensive, and for good reason. Their best years are past them and they’d both be liabilities on the defensive end, Aldridge more so than Howard.

Another player that could land with the Celtics would be Derrick Favors. Joe Mussatto of the Oklahoman discussed Favors’ future in OKC during a recent Q&A, saying:

"“Favors is still on the roster, and by all indications the 31-year-old center will break camp with the Thunder later this month. The Thunder has until the end of training camp to sort out its roster crunch. As of now, the Thunder is three standard contracts over the limit.”“Favors’ spot certainly isn’t secured, but the Thunder could have waived him by now if it was an easy decision. Sure, he’s a serviceable center and a good locker room guy, but it’s his $10.2 million expiring contract that might prove most valuable to the Thunder. That money could be useful come trade season.”"

Should Favors be bought out, he is certainly someone that could wind up with the Boston Celtics. Like Howard and Aldridge, the 31-year-old wouldn’t give the Green much defensively, but he isn’t as far gone as the other two.

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