The Boston Celtics may have found their replacement for impending restricted free agent Grant Williams on the first day of the 2023 NBA free agency period with the signing of former Indiana Pacers wing Oshae Brissett — this, at least, according to MassLive’s Brian Robb in the aftermath of the C’s first follow-up move to the Marcus Smart-for-Kristaps Porzingis trade.
“Brissett is still just 25 years old and has shown enough promise in Indiana to be a useful depth piece for certain matchups,” Robb prefaced before saying, “He is also conceivably a very low-cost Grant Williams replacement (and a far worse shooter) if the team loses him via free agency or a sign-and-trade.”
The signing, one for two years with a second-year player option, gives the Celtics more depth on the perimeter behind Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Sam Hauser. Justin Champagnie is not guaranteed to return given his non-guaranteed 2023-24 salary.
Oshae Brissett will be a ‘solid depth piece’ for Boston Celtics
Brissett isn’t the flashiest signing for the Boston Celtics, but given the emotional whiplash fans are still feeling after the Porzingis trade went from sending Malcolm Brogdon to the Los Angeles Clippers to Smart being moved to the Memphis Grizzlies, such a roster-shifting move wasn’t strictly necessary. NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg sees the move as one that will provide depth, even if it wasn’t the flashiest of transactions.
“While his numbers from last year don’t jump off the page, Brissett has shown flashes of intriguing potential over his last two seasons with the Pacers,” Forsberg prefaced before saying, “At the very least, he will be a solid depth piece for the frontcourt in 2023-24.”
Brissett can provide big minutes — and perhaps a big game in a spot start given his February 27 27-point, six-rebound outing in 2022 against the Boston Celtics — on nights the Jays need a breather on back-to-backs. The signing was sneaky and could ultimately prove to be a bargain if Brissett thrives in a run-and-gun offense that ranked ninth in pace during the 2022-23 season.