Get it done Boston Celtics: Re-signing Grant Williams is a must going forward
As the Boston Celtics seek to prove that last season was not an accident, the Cs have several expiring contracts looming down the road. None are more important this season than the 23-year-old forward Grant Williams who earned himself a prominent role in the Boston rotation last season.
Since he discovered a consistent three-point shot, Williams has the tools to take his game to the next level. His desire to contribute at an elite level on the defensive end, and find ways to knock down open shots make him the perfect fit for the Celtics as they look to get the most out of their current championship window.
Williams emerged on the scene last year, jumping from 18.1 minutes per game in the 2020-21 campaign to nearly 25 minutes per game in the regular season for a team that had been waiting to find a consistent shooter to complement solidity on the defensive end. The Tennessee product shot an astounding 39.3 percent from behind the arc in the postseason, including a clutch performance against the Bucks in a win-or-go-home scenario where the former Tennessee product knocked down seven jumpers from distance.
Williams played in a total of 77 contests in last year’s regular season which was more than any other Celtic. He was one of 25 players last season to shoot over 40 percent from the 3-point line, and with that shot now in his arsenal, there is no telling what other attitudes Williams can add to his game throughout the rest of his career. Boston is already beginning to see a glimpse of the constant improvements that Williams continues to add each season in the preseason.
Whether it is crossovers from outside the paint or a creative hesitation move to get to the bucket on a hard close-out, Williams is not only going to feature in the role of a catch-and-shoot three-point shooter this upcoming season. It is not only his play on the court, but his personality, and attitude off the court that make him the exact locker room figure a team like the Boston Celtics needs to help glue a group of guys together even more.
Williams has been a constant professional since he entered the NBA, and he heads into the season with his main focus being on the court, stating:
"“For me, I’m just approaching every single day as if I either have it or I don’t have it. Just play the game the right way, make sure the team’s winning and focus on the ultimate goal of mine and that stuff will take care of itself. For me, I’m so locked in on the basketball side of things. Contract, anything of that nature, if it happens, I’ll be happy, but until then, let’s just play it out the way we are.”"
The Boston Celtics must get Grant Williams’ extension done ASAP
With his rookie contract coming to a close at the end of the season, the Boston Celtics are running out of time to give Grant Williams a well-deserved extension. The deadline to nail down Williams for the future is on October 17, and while there has been plenty of news surrounding the Celtics over the past few weeks, a young forward who is only getting better has to be treated with an emphasis on urgency.
In order for a team breakthrough into championship contention, role players are often the deciding factor, and if the team does not have depth, the challenges are only going to get even more astronomical as the season goes on. Stevens knows that Williams fits the mold, and finding players out on the market willing to buy into a specific role like he did last season is going to be more difficult than the Boston Celtics may think.
There are a number of rumors floating around when it comes to the price tag which is rumored to be around the $15 to $20 million a year range at this point in time. At the core, Williams does not seem to be one of those guys that are simply hunting for the most money on the market. Given that the Cs went all in by bringing Brogdon on board, and the fact that Horford’s contract comes to a close at the end of the season, securing a player that Williams who is beginning to show new elements to his game even in the preseason could be one of the first steps to seeing Boston’s defense at the top of the league for the foreseeable future.
Similarly to the Red Sox with Xander Bogaerts in that contract negotiation, it seems only a matter of time before it gets done. He may not dazzle the opposition with the number of baskets that go through the net, but it’s those hustle plays on both ends that others are often not willing to do that separate Williams from a lot of other players going on the market.
From his rebounding to his adaptability on the floor, Williams gives the Boston Celtics a plethora of lineup combinations that many other bigs simply can’t offer. The details of the extension will eventually be worked out, but if somehow it does not, Boston is going to have another gray cloud over the season even if it does not want to admit it.