Hardwood Houdini
Fansided

Offseason Report Card: Celtics get four Bs, a C and an F for offseason moves

By Josh Cornelissen

Jaylen Brown has not said a word about Marcus Smart being traded by the Boston Celtics -- but what is the reasoning for the silence from Brown? (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
Jaylen Brown has not said a word about Marcus Smart being traded by the Boston Celtics -- but what is the reasoning for the silence from Brown? (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 7
Next
Grant Williams of the Boston Celtics.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – MARCH 06: Grant Williams #12 of the Boston Celtics waits for a free throw during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on March 06, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

6. Grant Williams sign-and-trade

Facilitated sign-and-trade of Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for two second-round picks and one second-round pick swap

The Boston Celtics didn’t have to trade Grant Williams. He was a restricted free agent, which meant that the Celtics could have matched any contract he signed. They also had plenty of leverage in negotiations, and all the reporting is that he would have gladly signed a reasonable deal to return.

At some point, however, the Celtics decided the way that they wanted to save money was by not re-signing Grant Williams. That seems like an inexplicable decision given his combination of defensive chops and knockdown shooting. Adding Kristaps Porzingis made it a crowded frontcourt, but in a year or two when Al Horford retires (or a month or two when Robert Williams III is injured), they’re going to wish they had Grant around.

What makes it worse is that not only was this a blatant cost-saving maneuver, they punted on any pathways to making this year’s team better. Williams signed for a below-market deal the Celtics absolutely should have matched, but then they didn’t even get value back for him because they didn’t want any salary, letting the San Antonio Spurs get a valuable future pick swap and a useful wing in Reggie Bullock.

The Celtics are going to be incredibly expensive; they should have leaned into that reality to maximize this team right now; they’re good enough to contend, and Williams would have helped them do so. Barring that, Reggie Bullock and a valuable unprotected pick swap would have helped too. Instead, they saw a good homegrown player walk out of the door for a couple of peanuts.

Grade: F