In his latest piece for Bleacher Report titled ‘Last-Minute NBA Rookie Scale Extension Predictions,’ Eric Pincus provides pretty promising news for those that love the Boston Celtics core just the way it is.
In it — while assessing all the first-round picks from the 2019 NBA draft who are eligible for rookie-scale extensions — Pincus predicted that Grant Williams, the No. 22 pick that June, would be in line for a team-friendly deal.
Pincus’ prognostication would be that Williams will sign a contract with an average annual value of just $11 million, which is several below what HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto predicted. Scotto placed Williams ‘probably in the $12-14 million territory’ but thinks ‘$15 million is not out of the question.
Here was what Pincus ‘penciled in’ for Williams, who he lumped in a group with Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke and Philadelphia 76ers wing Mattise Thybulle, in his rookie scale extension piece:
"“For Thybulle, Clarke and Williams, an extension must be enough to make playing through the year on an expiring contract too risky, but the number needs to be large enough to be worthwhile. Are they important enough to each franchise for that investment?”“Pencil in an extension for Williams at $44 million over four years. The others have to wait.”"
Grant Williams could be a long-term starter for the Boston Celtics
Times are good not only for the Tennessee Volunteers, whose football team is now ranked in the top 6 for the first time in 17 years, but for former Vol Grant Williams, who appears poised to take home a handsome payday in the next few weeks or, at latest, the summer of 2023.
Williams has been a glue guy for the Cs through three seasons that each had a unique feel. During the 2020 bubble postseason, Williams broke out as a crunch-time option during the C’s series against the Toronto Raptors in the east semifinals, but his struggles in the team’s 2021 postseason series against the Brooklyn Nets was emblematic of a team-wide malaise. This past spring, Williams had two crucial 20+ point showings against the Milwaukee Bucks in the east semis and played starter-quantity minutes for most of the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat.
Moving forward, Williams could play an even bigger role should Al Horford retire following the 2022-23 season. The 6-foot-6 combo big feels like the logical successor at the starting power forward spot, providing a lot of the same skills as Horford minus some size but plus much more efficient shooting.