Boston Celtics: TMI believes Magic could outbid Cs for impending restricted free agent
The Boston Celtics have many contract decisions to face in the coming years, with the summer of 2023 presenting a particularly intriguing set of negotiations to be had with both starters and key second-unit pieces.
One of the most important players they’ll need to retain (Jaylen Brown) likely won’t have a decision either way until the summer of 2024. If Brown were to sign an extension, the starting salary would be around $36.9 million, with 8 percent annual raises from there per Keith Smith of Spotrac. In 2024, following the completion of his current deal, he’d be eligible for a deal with a starting salary as high as $41.8 million, which is $5 million higher than he can receive in an extension from Boston.
Beyond Brown, though, the Cs will need to figure out their power forward position moving forward. Al Horford’s contract is up, and the idea of retirement has been floated by Heavy’s Sean Deveney. Grant Williams will also hit restricted free agency, and likely Victor Wembanyama pursuers like the Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs, and the Orlando Magic could all attempt to sign Williams to an offer sheet per Deveney.
The Magic Insider’s Jeremy Brener believes the Magic could have the financial means to poach Williams away from the Boston Celtics with an offer sheet in the $17-18 million range this offseason:
"“The Orlando Magic is struggling to get off the ground this season with its 1-7 start to the year, but in the offseason, the team will have oodles of cash to hand out to free agents that can improve the roster.”“One of those free agents is Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams, a key role player who helped his team get to the NBA Finals last season. Williams is seeking big bucks this summer, and that’s money that Orlando could provide that Boston might not be able to.”"
The Orlando Magic will have the cap space to poach Grant Williams away from the Boston Celtics this summer
A $17 million or $18 million contract may not scare the Boston Celtics away from re-signing Grant Williams depending on how this season shakes out. Cs owner Wyc Grousbeck has given Brad Stevens the greenlight to spend whatever it takes to raise Banner 18, so the idea that Boston doesn’t have the money for a free agent may be misguided.
Let’s just say that things go sideways for Williams in Beantown, though — would the Magic have the cap space necessary to sign him to a massive offer sheet? Why yes, they absolutely would be able to.
Orlando is likely to move off of Jonathan Isaac’s $17 million cap figure one way or another, and both Gary Harris and Mo Bamba have unguaranteed salaries worth a combined $23 million. Freeing up that $40 million more than does the trick for the Magic should they want to sign Williams this coming summer.