PART 4 The Grant Williams dilemma: Celtics at a crossroads with RFA forward

The Grant Williams dilemma: Celtics at a crossroads with RFA forward

If the Celtics extend Grant Williams, they'd have to cut costs elsewhere.

By Chris Forsberg, Celtics Insider • Published June 15, 2023 • Updated on June 15, 2023 at 1:20 pm

VIDEO https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-videos/the-new-cba-with-forsberg-will-grant-williams-return-to-boston/535348/

Chris Forsberg continues his series looking at CBA challenges the Celtics face in the next few seasons by discussing what the future holds for restricted free-agent Grant Williams

Five days after an unexpected DNP, Grant Williams found himself at the free-throw line in Cleveland shooting a pair of free throws with 0.8 seconds on the clock with a chance to push his team to victory.

"Imma make 'em both," Williams confidently barked at Cavaliers superstar Donovan Mitchell in a tie game as Cleveland did everything it could to get inside Williams' head before the attempts.

Williams clanged the first freebie off the front rim. The second spun out off the back rim. The Celtics lost in overtime.

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This was certainly not the way Williams had envisioned the 2022-23 season playing out. He banked on himself before the season, shunning a lucrative extension offer from the Celtics in hopes of a grander payday. But in less than a three-week stretch in March, Williams logged two DNPs, playing sparingly in other games, and, with a chance to be the hero in Utah at the end of a long road trip, got blocked on a freelanced final drive attempt in a one-point loss.

Five more DNPs awaited in the postseason. To Williams' credit, he was ready when his number was finally called in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Miami, and he put together a series of solid games as the Celtics nearly made history while rallying out of an 0-3 hole.

Williams went cold over the final three games and played only 16 minutes in Boston’s lopsided Game 7 loss. He left TD Garden with a Santa Claus-sized trash bag slung over his shoulder while wandering into an uncertain summer.

Editor's Note: This is Part 4 of Chris Forsberg's five-part series on how the new CBA impacts the Celtics' future. You can read Parts 1, 2 and 3 below.

Grant was hurt but he has not earned a big payday.

The Celtics made him the qualifying offer and are likely to let him shp around.  I doubt they would match an offer much over the QO.

DBOSS

I HEARD THE SWEET SPOT FOR THE CELTICS IS $12-$14 M PER YEAR.

AGAIN IF THEY TRADE BROGDON AND GET A YOUNG PLAYER WHO COMES CHEAP, CELTICS MAY HAVE SOME SPENDING ROOM TO MATCH A CONTRACT ALSO.

$20M IS OUT SO WILLAIMS HAS TO BE REAL IN HIS ESTIMATE WORTH.

112288

If the Celtics extend Grant Williams, they'd have to cut costs elsewhere.

No reasons, no examples, no nothing of substance. Just a poor rehash of a few Grant-related issues over the season. Lots of talk about his DNPs, but nothing about his injury from March.

It's almost like I ordered a side salad, and instead, the waiter gave me a bag of hamburger toppings.