5 Boston Celtics who definitely shouldn’t be back next season

The Boston Celtics cannot return as is during the 2023-24 season given the way things ended during the Eastern Conference Finals in 2023.

Falling down 3-0 in the series to Miami, Boston made a spirited comeback to force a Game 7 — but with a loss so decisive and uncompetitive with the chance to go to the NBA Finals on the line, and at home no less, the Cs as is are not a squad one simply runs back and expects better results from.

To be clear, the Houdini is looking for Jaylen Brown to sign that $295 million super-max his 2022-23 All-NBA appearance makes him eligible to earn. Until he makes a trade demand, we’re operating under the assumption that No. 7 will be back. In fact, no member of the starting lineup — whether the team goes with a double-big arrangement or goes small — should be a goner, nor should the team’s Sixth Man of the Year, Malcolm Brogdon, be. But for this team to make a tangible move forward, certain players will likely need to be trade chips, or not given an expected payday, to open up roster space for a new cast of reinforcements.

Here are 5 Boston Celtics who definitely shouldn’t be back next season

Grant Williams

This one is simple: Grant Williams could be expected to receive an annual salary exceeding $15 million per season in restricted free agency, and with Brown due for hefty raise, being stuck in luxury tax purgatory having invested big into a player with four double-digit scoring outings in 15 appearances during the 2023 postseason isn’t enviable.

Williams was a versatile and valuable addition to the team from 2019-2023, but it feels like his time in Boston has come to an end. Given his charity work in the greater Boston area, the local community is better off having had Williams on the C’s roster.