Jack Simone: By the tip of his tenure with the Celtics, it felt as if an amazing variety of followers have been towards Grant Williams. And since he left, the mindset has been that it’s for the higher and Boston’s free company additions can simply substitute him. That’s not the case. There isn’t any changing a 40% three-point shooter who can defend wings and bigs. The Celtics didn’t signal that sort of participant and there merely aren’t many gamers like that within the NBA. As an alternative, Boston must deploy wings primarily based on what they want. Hauser or Mykhailiuk for taking pictures. Brissett or Walsh for protection. Williams was each in a single, and the Celtics don’t have that anymore.
Benjamin Torbert: Traditionally, Tatum has carried out nicely as a focus with all-bench models. I anticipate to see much more of that this 12 months with the make-up of our probably high bench gamers. Tatum can sub early within the 1st and third quarter and permit Brown and Porzingis to deal with the heavy scoring load for a couple of minutes. Then, if Rob begins, Mazzulla can flip to a bench lineup with Brogdon, Pritchard, Hauser, Tatum, and Horford. That lineup offers a silly quantity of taking pictures round Tatum as a focus playmaker and will give opposing groups a significant problem defensively.
Mark Aboyoun: I echo Jack’s level. Nobody that we signed can replicate what Grant did, therefore why he acquired paid the cash he did. I believe Mazzulla can have situational lineups that he’ll name upon when particular situations come up. Whether or not he wants taking pictures or protection. Having extra choices provides Mazzulla extra to work with and might doubtlessly be a headache to defend towards. Whether or not we go for a lineup crammed with taking pictures or want to shut a recreation out with 6’7 defenders to change the whole lot. The brand new additions might want to settle for their position even when there are video games they barely get on the ground.
Sam LaFrance: There’s going to be much more room for alternative amongst the backup wings. They’ve acquired six guys who can do a ton of various issues and none of them significantly leap off of the web page because the clear-cut favourite to fill a big bulk of minutes. As for Grant’s departure, it’s not going to harm — at the least not but. Boston’s addition of Porzingis will masks the void of Williams’ exit. Nonetheless, there’s going to be extra of a necessity for his measurement, protection, and consistency in a 12 months or two when Al Horford can’t give them as a lot. Grant would’ve been in a position to step again into the position he had stuffed in his 4 seasons with the Celtics as soon as Horford aged out of the rotation. Additionally — personally don’t assume it was the neatest transfer to simply relinquish the cap slot they might’ve stored by paying Grant. However, the brand new CBA could have a factor or two to say about that.
Ben Dupont: Grant Williams gave the staff taking pictures and defensive versatility that can be unmatched by any backup wings on the roster proper now. With that stated, the Celtics have so many choices on the ahead spot now that one or two of them are going to be helpful rotation items. If they need some further taking pictures on the ground, they will go to Sam Hauser or Svi Mykhailiuk and hope they maintain their very own defensively. In the event that they want a defensive stopper, they will go to Oshae Brissett or Lamar Stevens and pray that they will hit their 3s. Joe Mazzulla has choices, he simply may have to be extra inventive in who he places on the ground every day. I’m additionally hoping we’ll see actual Jordan Walsh minutes this season, however which may be farfetched.
Mike Dynon: Since dropping Grant, the Celtics have signed so many younger veteran wings that they might have the deepest bench within the league. So, the true query is: Which particular person or mixture of bench gamers will substitute Grant’s stable particular person protection and .395 three-point subject objective accuracy of final season? There have to be somebody, and probably the candidates will change from evening to nighttime till one emerges from the pack.
Essentially the most intriguing risk is Jordan Walsh. He supposedly lacked a dependable three-point shot, however his Summer season League efficiency stated in any other case. At 6-foot-7, Walsh is a bit taller than Williams, and he’s actually extra athletic. Was his Vegas manufacturing an indication of issues to return or only a mirage within the desert? If Walsh seems to be a rotation participant, that can mirror a really deep roster.
Daniel Poarch: Grant Williams turned a little bit of a punching bag for Celtics followers final season, and that will not have been totally justified. He’s a singular and malleable participant that matches fairly simply into the rotation for a contending staff. That stated, he was out and in of Joe Mazzulla’s rotation final season, and that was earlier than Kristaps Porzingis entered the combination within the frontcourt. Depth might grow to be a problem if not one of the staff’s new wings pan out, however I believe they’ve accepted that threat for the possibility to boost their ceiling. I believe his departure works out to be one thing of a internet impartial for this staff.
Bobby Manning: It’s a significant cause the Brogdon scenario carries a lot significance. Boston might want to play double-big for almost the whole thing of video games until Brogdon or one of many depth wings can reliably enable the Celtics to play with just one large on the ground. I’ve maintained hope Oshae Brissett can replicate the position Grant Williams performed final 12 months. It’s extra probably a committee will present the bench scoring, however when it issues, comparable Brogdon manufacturing to final 12 months, steps from Pritchard and staggered lineups with Brown and Porzingis as scorers ought to suffice with out overloading Tatum’s accountability.
Trevor Hass: I believe the Celtics will miss Grant Williams, however I don’t assume his absence will dramatically have an effect on the course of the season. There have been stretches final 12 months the place he barely performed, and the Celtics did simply effective with out him. Put Oshae Brissett, Jordan Walsh and Sam Hauser collectively and also you get Grant Williams. Joe Mazzulla will flip to every man to assist fill that void. It’s probably that one of many three will emerge as a constant possibility and earn rotational minutes within the playoffs.
