Analyst reveals biggest Boston Celtics underachiever this season

MassLive’s Brian Robb recently revealed during his latest Celtics Mailbag who he believes has been the biggest underachiever on the Boston Celtics during the 2022-23 season — and to the surprise of no one, he listed Grant Williams.

Williams, an impending restricted free agent this upcoming offseason, was notably a healthy scratch against the Cavaliers on March 1. Since February 23 he has made just 2/11 shots from the field. During a season in which he was a starter at the offset, Williams has fallen down the depth chart and could become expendable with the Cs bringing back Al Horford on a multi-year extension and acquiring Mike Muscala — who has a team option for the 2023-24 season — at the 2023 NBA trade deadline.

In answering a reader’s question about what the main pitfalls this year’s team is facing that last year’s Eastern Conference champion team couldn’t, Robb called Williams the biggest underachiever on the Boston Celtics:

"“As far as underachieving goes, I think Grant Williams (37 percent shooting in second half) is the biggest offender.”"

The Boston Celtics could get Grant Williams at a discount due to struggles

It’s not a stretch to say that Williams’ poor play of late could cost him free agent earnings, but at that same token, it could have the Boston Celtics signing Williams at a big discount over the offseason.

Before the season started, there were talks of Williams’ deal getting an annual salary of over $17 million. With the C’s starting lineup (Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Robert Williams III), Malcolm Brogdon, and Derrick White all locked into their deals through next season on at least eight-figure contracts, going deep into the luxury tax for Williams would be a hard pill to swallow.

A strong postseason performance could undo the recent struggles. Ask Jalen Brunson what a massive playoff run could do for someone’s free agency stock. But if he continues at the pace he’s been at the past few weeks, Williams could end up being a bargain due to a loss of free agent interest.