The writing has lengthy been on the wall that Grant Williams’ time in Boston was over. On Wednesday, the Celtics stated goodbye to their fourth-year ahead.
Williams has been traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team deal that additionally contains the San Antonio Spurs, in accordance with a number of stories on Wednesday night time. The Celtics will obtain a number of second-round picks, the Spurs will get Reggie Bullock and a draft decide, whereas the Mavs will purchase Williams – who was a restricted free agent – on a four-year, $54 million deal by way of signal and commerce, per stories.
The commerce will create a commerce exception value just below $7 million for the Celtics, in accordance with a number of stories.
Williams’ departure appeared to be the most certainly consequence as he entered restricted free company this summer season and there was a way that at the present time was inevitable for months. The dominoes began falling in October, when Williams and the Celtics did not comply with a contract extension earlier than the ahead went on to have a rocky season underneath first-year coach Joe Mazzulla.
Williams, Boston’s first-round decide in 2019, was poised for a breakout marketing campaign after evolving right into a dependable and invaluable 3-and-D participant and key bench producer for the Celtics. But he by no means had a clean experience and in the end fell out of Mazzulla’s rotation throughout the second half of the season. He suffered a left hand harm in March which required surgical procedure within the offseason and which will have factored into his lowered enjoying time, too.
Williams stayed skilled regardless of a irritating particular person season because the Celtics chased a championship and he emerged with a handful of impactful moments within the playoffs, but it surely was too inconsistent. The Celtics’ commerce for Kristaps Porzingis final month beefed up their frontcourt and put Williams’ future in Boston additional unsure, with vital enjoying time wanting unlikely behind Porzingis, Robert Williams and Al Horford. This state of affairs, in the end, doubtless got here right down to cash. The Celtics have been already spending properly past the wage cap and into the luxurious tax and re-signing Williams to the contract he acquired from the Mavs would have put them previous the “second apron” that comes with difficult roster-building limitations.
At an occasion in Foxboro sponsored by Fanatics, Williams acknowledged his unsure future with the Celtics however expressed hope for a return. It in the end was his closing week with the group.
“Whatever happens, I have not much control in this because I allow my agents and everybody else to focus in on that because my whole goal and focus has always been winning, and making sure team success is the No. 1 and most important thing,” Williams informed reporters. “Brad (Stevens) and people guys, in the event that they resolve to maintain me and convey me again, in fact I’m going to come back again and be excited, glad and able to play for the Celtics. If one thing else occurs, then I’ve to transition.
“But for me, my outlook has always been that I want to make sure that wherever I am, to impact success and winning and make sure that I’m just there for the players around me and focus on the team first. Whatever happens this free agency will be that.”
Ultimately, Williams received what he sought – a payday just like what he was reportedly looking for with the Celtics earlier than final season along with a major position as he’ll be part of a Mavs group alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving that ought to assist generate loads of open seems to be and alternative.
The transfer continues a significant offseason restructuring for the Celtics, who’ve traded away two vital items after shifting Marcus Smart within the deal for Porzingis two weeks in the past. As it stands now, the trades have left the Celtics with much less depth and a lack of vital intangibles that Smart and Williams gave them. Williams, although his Celtics profession was one thing of a rollercoaster, understood his position. He knocked down loads of well timed pictures and his defensive versatility was crucial as he carried out properly in opposition to rival stars like Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetekounmpo. He introduced a degree of toughness and even management that received’t be simply changed.
The Celtics prided themselves on being one of many deepest groups within the league final season however because the NBA transitions to a special world underneath the brand new collective bargaining settlement that challenges roster-building with its wage cap limitations, they’ll need to make sacrifices and a few modifications. With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s looming supermax extensions along with Porzingis’ massive wage, there isn’t loads of room for Stevens and Co. to function and construct out the identical degree of depth as earlier than.
The Celtics signed Oshae Brissett firstly of free company, and his versatility may assist make up for Williams’ absence as a backup wing who may slide in and play a while on the 4. But he’s a transparent downgrade from Williams at this level.
It’s actually potential that there’s one other shoe to drop and strikes to be made. The Celtics have property like Malcolm Brogdon, who they already tried to commerce and whose two-year, $45 million contract might be moved to shed wage as they appear to reshape the roster. But Brogdon, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, is much more vital now following the departure of Smart.
It stays to be seen what methods could be up Stevens’ sleeve. He’s actually confirmed this summer season that he’s unafraid to make massive modifications within the Celtics’ chase for a championship.
Source: www.bostonherald.com