4 players who may be playing final season with Boston Celtics in 2023-24

Robert Williams III

The Time Lord has not been healthy for the majority of his Boston Celtics career, and while his contract is cost-controlled for several more years, the juice might not be worth the squeeze for a veteran who may not be present during the most important postseason moments due to injury.

Just two seasons ago, Robert Williams III was part of the best lineup in the NBA in several statistical categories. Under Joe Mazzulla, though, he has been downgraded in priority, having been moved to the bench.

Things may only get worse with Kristaps Porzingis entering the rotation. If Mazzulla goes small with his lineup with a five-out arrangement, Williams wouldn’t even be the first big off the bench; sitting behind Al Horford in what may be the penultimate year of his career.

If Williams is demoted that much, his salary is a valuable potential trade chip the Cs could use to match salaries or even gain draft capital with. Since Smart is gone, there’s no possibility the Smart-Jaylen Brown-Jayson Tatum-Horford-Williams quintet could save the Time Lord in 2023-24.