The Boston Celtics have the non-taxpayers mid-level exception, and esteemed alum Robert Williams III is set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer. His abilities and continuity with the Jays make a reunion sound like a perfect idea. However, bringing Timelord back also brings back a risk the Celtics have been dealing with seemingly forever: his inability to stay on the floor.
Williams is coming off his healthiest season since leaving Boston, having played 59 games and looking like the All-Defense recipient and lob threat he was when he donned a Celtics uniform.
However, do a little more digging and you'll see that this past season was his healthiest since the 2021-22 season, and by a pretty fair margin at that. In between those seasons, Williams has appeared in 35, six, and 20 games between 2022 and 2026.
It's great to see that he was finally able to have a healthier season than usual, but even so, that only amounted to 59 games. From a talent perspective, of course they should look into reuniting with Williams, and he would probably prove them right to do it.
However, their success would potentially hinge on his health. That's a risk Boston has taken too many times to count, and not just with him but with Kristaps Porzingis as well. While they've still overcome that at times - hence why they're at 18 titles instead of 17 - do they really want to welcome that unknown yet again?
Also, Timelord is a specialist, not a starter
Williams undeniably possesses the talent to be a starting center. The only problem is that his reputation for being extremely injury-prone limits how much trust his team can put in him. Even while appearing in the most games over the course of a regular season than he has in four years, his minutes were highly restricted.
He averaged only 17.1 minutes a game in Portland, and that's by design. First off, they had the blossoming Donovan Clingan, so they didn't have to start Williams, but it was perfect for him because fewer minutes made it less likely for him to get hurt.
If Timelord comes back to Boston, Neemias Queta would likely still get the start over him. However, for how good Queta was this past season, Williams is a better player than him, which will make many demand he play more, but Williams' fragile body will prevent the Celtics from trusting him that much.
This isn't all to refute the notion that the Celtics should look into bringing Timelord back. It's more that they should definitely know what they're getting themselves into if they do. More specifically, what they're getting themselves back into if they do.
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