5 Grant Williams replacements that improve Celtics title odds in 2024
By Tyler Watts
1. Bruce Brown Jr.
Brown has become a key piece for the Nuggets and has a $6.8 million player option for next season. Will the 26-year-old opt-in and run it back in Denver, playing next to Nikola Jokic? The franchise is just $9.6 million under the second tax apron with just ten players under contract. Filling out with taxpayer mid-level and minimum deals will have them right up against that number.
Brown could opt out and become an unrestricted free agent. At that point, he is unlikely to take a pay cut to come to Boston, but the Celtics could trade Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser to Denver with a draft pick thrown in. That brings Bruce Brown to Boston and gives the Nuggets two players over one at that salary.
It would be a bold move by the Celtics, but one that gives them another stout defender that can do a bit of everything on the floor. Brown will cut, set screens, handle the ball, and make plays. He could be just the connector Boston needs to get over the hump and win their 18th championship.
The Boston Celtics face a difficult summer and will likely be moving on from Grant Williams. Can they find a replacement that improves their title odds in 2024? Stay tuned to find out.
