The Boston Celtics’ decision on Grant Williams will be telling
The Boston Celtics have a decision to make on forward Grant Williams this offseason. The team has made moves that could signal Williams’ departure, but most fans want the Celtics to keep him in green.
Grant Williams said there is still a chance to return to the #Celtics. “Absolutely. It’s just a decision of whether or not it’s needed.” Said a deal with the new CBA “definitely changes the (cap) numbers”
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) June 27, 2023
Ultimately, I think the decision the Celtics make will be telling because it will highlight the team shifting its philosophy completely.
Trading Marcus Smart was the first philosophy-shifting move that the Boston Celtics front office made because it signaled that the team now belonged to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. From an outside view, it feels as if the main goal of this offseason has been to please the Jays. Bringing in new assistant coaches allows the Celtics to move off Mazzulla if the Jays don’t like him, and trading Smart gives the Jays the keys to the franchise.
Williams fits into this discussion because he is another role player that has an inflated sense of self. Williams cost the Celtics many times this season with his poor decision-making, which ultimately led to his being benched. Also, Williams is a threat to Tatum and Brown, as well as Mazzulla because he is not afraid to speak his mind.
The Boston Celtics would be appealing to key figures if they move on from Grant Williams
If the Celtics decide to move on from Williams, it would signal that they are once again catering to their superstars but in this instance, also their coach. The departure of Williams would be a telling move for the Celtics because it would please Mazzulla and possibly the Jays. It would be one less ego that could interfere with Tatum and Brown.
I would like the Celtics to keep Williams because they need depth at the forward position. However, I would not be surprised if the Boston Celtics decided to let Williams walk in free agency or work out a sign-and-trade.
If the Celtics can get Grant back on a good contract they should do it
— Brett (@TheBg_12) June 27, 2023
Williams’ free agency will determine just how much of a stamp Brad Stevens wants to put on the Celtics given his lack of reluctance to trade Danny Ainge-era first-round draft picks like Romeo Langford, Aaron Nesmith, and more recently, Marcus Smart.